Nemo finds home at TUH's ED nurse grad program

Registered nurse Nemo Trakulkitcharoen was one of 12 new nurses who started Townsville University Hospital’s first-ever emergency department and short stay unit mid-year grad program this week.

The new nurses will spend the next 12 months learning everything about working in a busy ED environment with the opportunity to gain full-time employment afterwards.

Mr Trakulkitcharoen said he was excited to start his career in Townsville.

“I am from Brisbane and I had a few options on where to go after I finished my studies, including staying in Brisbane, but coming to Townsville stood
out as the best option for me,” Mr Trakulkitcharoen said.

“Townsville has a busy ED where you are exposed to a lot of things while also having a great support network behind you to help.

“I will have more opportunities to learn here and that was very appealing to me.”

Nurse educator Travis Cole said a lot of planning had gone into making this work to ensure the supports were in place for all the nurses in the program.

“There are already 20 graduate nurses employed in the ED and short stay unit and this additional cohort will make it the largest ever intake of graduate nurses in one year at the hospital’s ED,” Mr Cole said.

“Over the next 12 months they will further develop critical care skills, competence in systematic patient assessment, managing the high acuity and chronically unwell patients, medication management, cannulation, analysis of blood test results, and comprehensive wound care.

“The emergency program includes a number of assessment milestones throughout the graduate year which are credited towards further tertiary qualifications as well as also setting the graduates up for more permanent employment positions.

“I am looking forward to seeing this group of graduates grow and develop their skills over the next 12 months.”