Community encouraged to support student nurses

The bursary will support student nurses

In an effort to help address the nursing shortage in rural and regional Queensland, USQ will tomorrow (Friday 14 May) launch an appeal to fund a special clinical placement bursary.

The initiative has been developed to support student nurses to attend rural and remote clinical placements.

With declining numbers of nurses working in the hospitals and health services of rural and remote Queensland and increasing health and well-being needs of residents in these areas, it is essential more nurses are encouraged to work in these communities.

A positive rural or remote placement experience encourages nursing graduates to seek work in these areas; this is welcome news for rural and remote health services which often struggle to attract staff.

It is hoped that the bursary will encourage more student nurses apply for a rural or remote clinical placements.

'Nursing graduates from USQ are in high demand due to the strong clinical focus of our nursing programs and high quality teaching staff,' Head of Nursing and Midwifery at USQ Professor Cath Rogers-Clark said.

While many individuals are eager to undertake nursing degrees, many also run into financial hardship during critical training placement periods.

With many student nurses on low incomes, some single parents and some working other jobs to support their families while studying to be a nurse, financial problems can unfortunately prevent them from attending rural and remote clinical placements.

However, Advancement Officer in USQ’s Office of External Relations Tiffany Hardy said that by ‘sponsoring a student nurse’ through this bursary, you could help them relieve the financial strain on their ability to achieve their potential.

Ms Hardy said that for student nurses just $500 to $1,000 while they are away on placement periods would make a very big difference.

'Individuals, companies in the medical services sector, other industries, rural and regional business and other groups in the community are encouraged to support the appeal.'

The clinical placement bursary will begin supporting student nurses immediately in 2011 with an appropriate proportion of the funds to build an endowment that will become a perpetual source of financial support for student nurses at USQ.

Media have been invited to attend the launch, which will be held at the Empire Theatre Church from 5:30pm until 6:45pm this Friday.

Contact Details:
Josh Ada, USQ Media, +61 7 4631 2559 or 0400 025 429