A first-of-its-kind pilot placing final-year nursing students into Cooinda Aged Care home in Queensland’s Gympie has been so successful it is being expanded to three sites in southeast Queensland.
The program, which was developed by the University of the Sunshine Coast and Not For Profit, church based aged care provider Lutheran Services, provides nursing students with an interest in aged care with hands-on learning experiences in the aged care environment.
The placement includes a series of lectures led by UniSC academics and industry professionals covering topics such as dementia, falls prevention, wound management, and end-of-life care.
UniSC aged care specialist Dr John Rosenberg, said, “Usually, aged-care placements occur in first year, where the emphasis is mostly on an introduction to general nursing, yet aged care residents have complex needs that require knowledgeable and skillful practitioners.”
Lutheran Services CEO Nick Ryan said, “There is a national shortage of Registered Nurses in all sectors and our partnership with the University of the Sunshine Coast is one way of tackling this challenge.
“It’s also a great way of harnessing the passion of our up-and-coming nursing students and providing an easier pathway into such a rewarding area as aged care.”
