Western Health Staff Only
The Discovery Program is offered both at Western Hospital and Sunshine Hospital
The Discovery Program provides a 6-month supported clinical rotation to Registered Division 1 Year 2 or above nurses who have little or no experience in the specialty of emergency nursing. The aim of the program is to facilitate the participant's development of the foundational knowledge and clinical skills required to practice safely and effectively in the emergency department setting. Throughout the structured program specialist clinical educators and preceptors provide participating staff with clinical, educational and professional support.
Program Objectives
Objectives of the Discovery Program are to provide participants with the opportunity to; experience and practice emergency nursing in a supportive environment; develop foundational knowledge and skills in emergency nursing; obtain competency in essential emergency clinical skills such as assessment and management of emergency patients, intravenous cannulation, and intravenous opioid administration. In addition to two supernumerary orientation days to the emergency department, participants attend four educational study days that introduces them to key emergency nursing topics such as cardiac monitoring and ECG analysis, arterial blood gas interpretation, diabetic emergencies, advanced neurological assessment, toxicology and advanced principles of fluid management. Participants also attend an ECG course and an Advanced Life Support Workshop. Participants are supported in their development by the provision of learning resource manuals on advanced cardiac life support, advanced emergency patient assessment and emergency department orientation.
Completion of Program
At the completion of the Discovery Program, the participant will be able to practice safely and effectively in the emergency department. In particular , they will be able to:
- Competently assess and manage moderately ill patients with common emergency presentations such as chest pain, poisoning, diabetic emergencies, trauma and shortness of breath.
- Obtain, measure and interpret arterial blood gases.
- Recognize and respond appropriately to abnormal cardiac rhythms.
- Demonstrate basic knowledge and ability to analyse 12 lead ECG's.
- Understand and provide safe delivery of oxygen therapy.
- Demonstrate foundational theoretical knowledge and clinical skills relating to Advanced Cardiac Life Support.
- Competently insert intravenous cannula.
- Understand the principles of intravenous fluid therapy and fluid resuscitation.
- Assess paediatric patients.
Applications for the Discovery Program
There is one intake per year that starts at the beginning of February each calendar year. Expressions of interest will be accepted from September for the following February intake. Applications (cover letter and resume) should be directed to:
Sunshine Emergency Department
Louise Cooke, Nurse Unit Manager
Email: [email protected]
Footscray Emergency Department
Liz Borowik, Nurse Unit Manager
Email: [email protected]
