Graduate of the Year
Local girl, Grace Barreno wins Graduate of the
Year
Nurse Grace Barreno, of Hallam, is St John of
God Health Care Melbourne hospitals’ new Graduate of the Year,
having completed her 12 month rotational placement with flying
colours.
Grace, 22, was voted number one by the three
hospitals’ various nurse unit managers, nurse educators, learning
and organisational development managers and some preceptors. The
graduates were judged on broad-ranging criterion, including their
high standards of nursing care, enthusiasm for learning
opportunities, reliability, punctuality, attention to
documentation, and for upholding the St John of God values of
Hospitality, Compassion, Respect, Justice and Excellence.
Karen Goh, Graduate Nurse Coordinator,
describes Grace as a “quiet achiever” who goes about her work
thoroughly and professionally.
Now in its fifth year, St John of God Health
Care's graduate program offers four-month rotations at three
specialist hospitals. “It’s a dynamic program because it enables
new nurses to experience a range of health care
disciplines: mental health at St John of God Pinelodge Clinic
in Dandenong, physical rehabilitation at St John of God Nepean
Rehabilitation Hospital, and acute medical/surgical at St John of
God Hospital Berwick,” Karen said. “Graduates are able to
kick-start their career by discovering the speciality that best
appeals to them.”
For Grace, this professional diversity was a
key reason she chose St John of God Health Care for her
graduate year, but she soon discovered an unexpected bonus. “Staff
at all three hospitals are very friendly and always smiling.
Everyone knows each other, and you really feel part of the whole
team, not just the nurses.”
Grace, who will begin Midwifery studies at
Monash University in March, said she was also attracted to
the organisation's values - Hospitality, Compassion, Respect,
Justice and Excellence. “You can see people living them every day,”
she said.
The next intake of graduates commenced their
Graduate Program year on Monday, 7 February.
For more information about the Graduate
Program, contact Karen Goh, Graduate Nurse Coordinator, via email
at karen.goh@sjog.org.au