Ramsay and Bupa launch new nursing exchange program

Ramsay Health Care and Bupa Australia have partnered for a new program to develop the next generation of nurses.

The program, to launch in 2025, will see graduate nurses from both organisations given the opportunity to swap places for a three-month exchange, gaining valuable skills and experience to improve patient care at hospitals and residential aged care homes around the country.

Ramsay Health Care’s Chief Nurse and Clinical Services Director, Associate Professor Bernadette Eather, said, “Graduates taking part in this program will learn important skills to take back to their workplace and to carry with them through their nursing career.”

“The program will offer our graduates comprehensive clinical experience and the development of key skills for managing aged care patients who can experience a variety of short and long-term health issues, as well as complex issues like dementia. These are important skills for nurses in hospitals and residential aged care homes, given our nation’s aging population.

“Ramsay’s Graduate Pathways Program has been designed to ensure new graduates not only transition to the workforce from study, but to ensure they are set up for success, get a head start on their development and excel in their careers. This partnership with Bupa is another wonderful opportunity for our graduates to gain valuable training and experience in the management of elderly patients.

“In return, we can offer Bupa graduates acute nursing experience across our medical and surgical wards. The skills they will learn aim to assist in the early recognition and management of conditions that could be treated in the home without the requirement to transfer the resident to an emergency department for assessment.”

Managing Director Bupa Villages & Aged Care Australia Andrew Kinkade said with Australia’s aging population, this program will help equip the next generation of nurses to support the needs of older Australians in a range of settings.

“Residents come into aged care with more complex needs than they did a few years ago and we continue to tailor our graduate programs accordingly.

“This partnership is the first time an aged care organisation has offered nurses the opportunity to work in a hospital setting as part of their graduate experience. At the same time, Ramsay graduates will gain experience working with multi-disciplinary teams and in building relationships with residents that go beyond acute care,” Kinkade said.

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