Photo supplied by UCOL.
Nurse entry to practice programmes (NetPs) are needed for nursing graduates who require work experience as registered nurses, the academic leader of UCOL's Nurse Education Team says.
While nursing students are given 1500 hours of work experience during their three years of study at UCOL, many workplaces require them to
have further experience once their degree is completed, Carol Stewart said.
"The difference is that they are working as an autonomous practitioner," Ms Stewart said.
Before they were registered, student nurses always working under the direct supervision of a registered nurse. Once they completed the degree they needed to be able to work unsupervised, however there were some positions where employers would not want a newly registered nurse working without support, she said.
"Netp was brought in to help support registered nurses in their first year of practice. They're put into a mentoring system so that you're supported to grow into the knowledge of that area you're working in," Ms Stewart said.
