Graceful nurse

A HALLAM nurse has been given top honours for her exceptional work during a 12-month rotational placement.
Grace Barreno, 22, is St John of God Health Care Melbourne hospitals’ Graduate of the Year after being voted number one by managers, educators and preceptors in three hospitals.
The graduates were judged on a broad-range of criteria including 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.
Graduate Nurse co-ordinator Karen Goh said Ms Barreno was a quiet achiever who worked thoroughly and professionally.
Ms Barreno said she enjoyed her work at St John of God for her graduate year.
“Staff at all three hospitals are very friendly, and always smiling,” she said.
“Everyone knows each other, and you really feel part of the whole team, not just the nurses.
The St John of God graduate program is in its fifth year and offers four-month rotations at three specialist hospitals.
Ms Goh said it was a dynamic program that enabled new nurses to experience a range of health care disciplines.
“Graduates are able to kick start their career by discovering the speciality that best appeals to them,” Ms Goh said.