Jan 11, 2013, 03:56 pm
Hi Lilibeth
I see you are a new member - Welcome!
A "grad program" is short for graduate program. It is a program that hospitals run for newly graduated nurses.
You are employed by the hospital as a grad nurse and you are given the opportunity to work in 2-3 different specialities during that period - this is called a rotation. This gives you a chance to experience a few different fields and lets you ease into nursing being well supported. You are paid and given the opportunity to do further educational short courses and day courses that interest and you and have study days during the year. These are usually hospital competencies that you must do to be able to practice that nursing action such as caring for a patient with a PCA, administering blood products etc. You are not guaranteed a position after your year ends, but the hospital usually employ grads on a permanent basis if you have successfully completed all of the requirements of the program.
Also, bear in mind that most acute facilities will not employ you unless you have at least a years experience in the acute sector first - so try as hard as you can to get into a grad program! If you don't have luck at public hospitals try private hospitals. I am almost at the end of my grad year as an enrolled nurse and have been lucky enough to work in the emergency department and the neurosciences ward. I now have a permanent job now, and am very happy that my future is secure.
If I can help you with anything else PM me!
Bye for now!
X-D
