WORKFORCE
WORKFORCE
Rural nursing
Free enrolments for RNs at La Trobe ’ s Bendigo Rural Health School
By Arshmah Jamal
La Trobe University ’ s Rural Health School has opened new enrolments to retain and strengthen the rural nursing workforce .
Once completed , the short online course results in a certificate , allowing nurses to brush up on skills in a rural setting .
The certificate includes micro-credentials covering digital health and assessments for rural paediatric , adult , and older patients .
Associate professor in rural nursing Dr Melissa Deacon-Crouch said that registered nurses often found their education did not fully prepare them for rural nursing .
“ These programs are designed to equip registered nurses with the tools , skills , and confidence to thrive in their roles and make a real difference to rural health ,” Dr Deacon-Crouch said .
Twenty-eight per cent of the Australian population resides in rural and remote areas – often having poorer health outcomes with higher rates of hospitalisations and limited access to health services .
In 2021 , the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reported there were 1,234.8 nurses per 100,000 in regional areas , with very remote areas having 1,170.1 per 100,000 .
Dean of La Trobe ’ s Rural Health School Professor Jane Mills said , rural nurses needed all the support they could get .
“ With the shortages of GPs across many parts of regional Australia , nurses
“ They often work in relative isolation and are expected to be the masters of all trades , looking after everything from physical trauma to mental health
carry much of their communities ’ healthcare burden ,” she said .
“ They often work in relative isolation and are expected to be the masters of all trades , looking after everything from physical trauma to mental health .” Currently , 20 free places are available for a 2024 start , with rural and regional nurses who miss out being eligible for a discounted rate of 70 per cent of the original course fee . ■
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