Caoimhe Ni Fhlatharta | Graduate Nurse
Bon Secours Hospital Galway
Graduate nurse programme
The transition from student nurse to full-time working professional can be challenging in a complex and constantly evolving healthcare industry. The graduate nurse programmes at Bon Secours Health System are designed to ease this transition, empowering you as you start your nursing journey.
Our Galway and Dublin hospitals offer two-year programmes, available to qualified nurses who graduated in the past two years. The programme is focused on your effective performance as part of a team, enhancing your clinical competence and confidence, and supporting your professional and personal development through skills like patient communication, self-care and resilience.
We offer opportunities at all levels for you to progress your career, work with a dynamic and patient-focused team, and become an integral part of Ireland’s largest independent hospital group.
I am really enjoying my experience so far on the Graduate Programme at the Bons Secours. When planning my rotations for my first year, my interests and preferences were taken into consideration but I was also encouraged to take the opportunity to work in areas that I wouldn’t have had the chance to during my nursing training, which I have found extremely beneficial. I have also had the opportunity to take part in different courses and learn new skills. All staff I have worked alongside have been extremely kind, welcoming and helpful to me during my first year as a staff nurse and I have been made feel like a part of the team in each area. I feel as though the experience I’m gaining here will definitely stand to me as I continue my career.
So far in the graduate programme at the Bon Secours, I have felt so welcomed from the beginning from all staff members and the hospital itself is always ensuring that staff are respected in every way. I’ve had the opportunity so far to spend my time in areas that have interested me from when I was a student. I have had the chance to gain experience and broaden my knowledge in these areas. I have attended study days and webinars to correspond to these areas too. I am really enjoying the year so far and it’s such a relief to know there is help from mentors when needed as going from student to registered can be daunting at times. So far it has really given me a rounded look at what area I can peruse as my future career progresses.
The New Graduate Nursing Programme at the Bon Secours has been such an eye-opening experience. I was extremely anxious about the change from student to staff nurse, I can wholeheartedly say the staff and team here have made that transition exciting. Immediately I was treated with respect and part of the family. Each staff member has happily taught me skills to advance my nursing autonomy while allowing me to grow as an individual nurse. It’s been amazing to rotate around the wards to experience different forms of nursing as a staff nurse rather than a student. My interests and thoughts were listened to and considered while deciding my rotations. I feel I have gained so much insight into working as a team and feel so much more confident as a nurse because I know I have a staff behind me that I can go to at any time.
During my time so far in the New Graduate nursing programme at the Bon Secours I have gained and will gain experience in a variety of aspects of nursing. I got the opportunity to be involved in the planning of my rotations during the first year, which I found hugely beneficial as I got to choose areas I believe I would like to work in, in the future. I also liked the idea of the rotation as I was still unsure of the area I intended to work in. I have got the opportunity to attend various courses in order to enhance my skills. So far, I am really enjoying the New Graduate program. It is a positive and exciting experience. I feel I am well supported in each area. All the staff are friendly and treat me as part of the team which makes it easier to transition from student to staff nurse.