Supporting the future of midwifery and nursing

06 October 2021

The Northern Adelaide Local Health Network’s (NALHN) Transition to Professional Practice Program (TPPP) supports graduate registered midwives and nurses throughout their first year entering the workforce.

The program was designed to increase the retention of midwives and nurses in their professions by providing support and guidance in their first year of practice to assist them acclimate to a career in healthcare.

Registered midwives rotate through five clinical areas of midwifery so they can gain a breadth of experience and put into practice skills they have learnt at university.

While registered nurses undertake two six-month rotations across two wards or units at Lyell McEwin and/or Modbury Hospitals. Nurses are provided one rotation of their choice and the second rotation is matched to the nurse’s interest and experience.

The program provides an invaluable experience that prepares them to continue working as a registered midwife or nurse for years to come.

Paula, Nurse Educator in NALHN’s TPPP, has a passion for graduate education which she has shared with TPPP nurses since she joined NALHN in May 2011. According to Paula her team is invested in their TPPP nurses, as they are the future of nursing.

“We want them to have the best possible start to their career so that they can have a long and fruitful nursing career,” she said.

“I am proud to say that every graduate in our program receives an equal share of the team’s time, which means we are able to get to know them all really well. It’s important we invest this time in them as we want to see them succeed.”

Paula facilitates 25 study days a year for TPPP registered nurses where they explore clinical and professional topics, with each TPPP registered nurse undertaking five study days.

Paula, Nurse Educator in NALHN’s Transition to Professional Practice Program (TPPP) with TPPP registered nurse Tahlia.

Similarly, TPPP registered midwives attend five study days that have been designed by Jenny, Midwife Educator and Registered Midwife TPPP Coordinator, to be relevant to their clinical practice and discuss their transition process.

According to Jenny the study days provide participants with the opportunity to talk to their peers in a comfortable environment.

“TPPP registered midwives from the private sector are also included in study days so everyone can share their experiences of working in the private and public sector,” said Jenny.

NALHN also supports two TPPP registered midwives who spend six months of their placement at regional hospitals, and six months with NALHN. They also attend the study days, providing another perspective of midwifery from a regional perspective.

Jenny has worked with NALHN since 1987 when she initially began as a student midwife. Ten years ago, she moved across to the TPPP where she draws on her experience as a graduate midwife at NALHN, share her valuable knowledge with the next generation of midwives.

“It has been an enriching experience to grow my own knowledge while working as a registered midwife at NALHN, and then be able to share that with others. As an educator I do miss the patient contact, however I get satisfaction from connecting with individual midwives and helping them to grow,” she said.

Jenny has supported 150 graduate midwives over the past ten years in her current role as Midwife Educator and Registered Midwife TPPP Coordinator.

For Paula, she views the TPPP registered nurses as the future of nursing.

“They are tomorrow’s leaders and executives so it’s important that we instill the nurses with a positive and healthy culture which will benefit our workforces and the community for many years to come.”

NALHN admits 15 graduate registered midwives each year and in 2022 will welcome 82 registered nurses. TPPP positions are advertised in July each year for commencement in the following calendar year on SA Health’s website.