Acute Care Transition Program

Acute Care Transition Program APPLY HERE

Aim of the Program

Our Program aims to facilitate your transition from a non-acute environment such as Rehabilitation, GP clinics, Vaccination hubs or aged care to an acute environment. We are completely committed to developing your career and ensuring that the program will be an exciting and rewarding experience.

Our Program has been designed to

offer you an opportunity to gain comprehensive acute medical/surgical clinical experience,
increase your confidence and strengthen your skills base,
develop your ability to work independently and as a team member,
enhance your decision making and critical thinking skills,
allow you to enjoy your nursing career.

Who is eligible?

The 2024 Acute Care Transition Program is for both Registered and Enrolled Nurses:

Who are Registered with AHPRA as either a Registered Nurse or an Enrolled Nurse.
Have at least 12 months of experience working as a Registered Nurse or Enrolled Nurse.

We have three program intakes across the year and these dates can be found below under "Important Dates".

Program Details

The Acute Care Transition Program is conducted over the four Melbourne hospital locations - Fitzroy, East Melbourne, Werribee and Kew. You will have the opportunity to nominate which clinical area you would like to work and we try very hard to match you with your requests. You do not need to have any experience in any of the clinical areas.

St Vincent’s Private East Melbourne is a 12-minute walk from St Vincent’s Private Fitzroy through the beautiful Fitzroy gardens and St Vincent’s Private Kew is only 5kms away in Kew. Our Werribee hospital is located in Melbourne’s western suburbs. All campuses are easily accessible via public transport.

Our 6-month program allows you to enhance your decision making and critical thinking skills across a broad acute medical/surgical clinical mix. We offer full time and part time positions (minimum 0.8 FTE) across a variety of shifts including weekends, night duty and public holidays on a permanent ongoing contract.

Clinical support

We are proud to offer one of the highest nurse educator ratios in the state, so you can be confident that you will have the support you need to achieve your goals. All of our education team members are hands on and are willing to assist you.

You will receive extensive clinical support in that you will be allocated a preceptor and there is a clinical coach to provide hands on bedside clinical support and education in a friendly and supportive manner with an education consultant that oversees the entire program.

We offer extensive education programs across the four sites, access to ward based education, twilight seminars and short courses.

Important dates

April Program

Applications open: Monday 5th February 2024

Applications close: Friday 16th February 2024

Interviews commence: Monday 19th February 2024

Program commences: Monday 22nd April 2024

October Program

Applications open: Monday 5th August 2024

Applications close: Friday 16th August 2024

Interviews commence: Monday 19th August 2024

Program commences: Monday 21st October 2024

Application details APPLY HERE

Only one application is required to be submitted for the program (We do not require separate applications for each site).

Applications will be accepted through our online portal on the website and need to include the following:

A covering letter
Succinct Curriculum Vitae (no more than three pages),
Two professional referees
Passport sized photo

Interview process

We endeavour to respond to your application within in 48hrs of receiving it. If you have been selected for an interview you will be contacted via phone. If you have not been selected for an interview you will receive a letter via email.

You will have some choice and flexibility when selecting an interview time, the earlier your application is received the more flexibility you will have in selecting a suitable interview time.

For more information

Julie O'Donnell

Education Consultant

Ph: 03 9928 6807

Email: SVPHM.Education.Programs@svha.org.au

We know that you have put a lot of time and effort into preparing your application and we will open and review all applications. Please pay particular attention to your spelling and grammar. It is a good idea to get someone to check your application. Make sure you send in all of the required information. Aim to send in your application at least one week prior to the closing date.

We will notify you within 48hrs of receiving your application if you have or have not been selected for an interview. We do this so that you have the opportunity to apply to an alternative hospital if your application has been unsuccessful.

Unsuccessful applicants have often sent in incomplete applications, have incorrectly certified documents, have made a number of spelling and grammar errors or have sent in an application intended for another hospital. Unfortunately we will not be able to offer unsuccessful applicants the opportunity to resubmit part or all of their application.

I am happy to answer any questions you have when preparing your application- just call or email me.

Our patient mix ensures that you will be able to care for patients who have had highly acute and complex surgical procedures such as open heart surgery, acute interventional cardiac procedures, major orthopaedic and reconstructive surgery, craniotomies and spinal surgery, major abdominal and vascular surgery. We also receive acute admissions from surrounding emergency departments and direct emergency ambulance admissions.

Nurses at St Vincent's Private Hospital, Melbourne receive the same entitlements as public hospitals such as annual leave and superannuation.

Our priority is to ensure that our patients receive the highest standard of care and our nurse patient ratio is determined by the acuity and complexity of the care required. As a graduate you will work in a team of nurses in a collaborative care model.

Our Surgeons and Physicians visit patients at least daily (often more) and actively liaise with the nurses looking after their patients. We also uniquely have medical and surgical residents/registrars and after hours onsite HMO’s who are available to assist you with patient care. Our ICU, Cardiac and HDU units are available for patients who need extensive monitoring and support. You will always have access to the support you need to provide high quality care for your patients.

Our patients have access to full allied health support such as onsite physiotherapy, dieticians, diabetes educator, social work, stomal therapy, occupational therapy and discharge planning. We also have onsite x-ray departments and pathology. These services also offer great support to nursing staff and are always willing to answer any questions you have regarding their service and also patient care.

We only require you to complete a maximum of two weeks night duty during the program.

We welcome applications from all TAFE’S and it does not matter if you have not had the opportunity to have a placement with us.

Yes. At interview you will fill out your preferences for which clinical areas you would like to rotate through. Every effort will be made to ensure your rotations match your preferences however some areas are more popular than others. We never send any graduate to an area that they have ranked in the lower half of preference lists.

All of our EN graduates are employed on a permanent ongoing contract. Upon completion of the program you may have the opportunity to work in a variety of clinical areas.

Nurses with a patient

Melbourne Acute Care Transition Program