Research & Development: Workforce

• Addressing Registered Nurse shortage by enhancing the role of the Enrolled Nurse
  A Workforce Innovation and Reform Caring for Older People project funded by Health Workforce Australia
  This project targets the nursing workforce (Enrolled Nurses (EN) and Registered Nurses (RN)) with the aim to broaden the scope of the EN role to be competent within the full legislated and professional scope. We have developed an “EN In Charge” role, with access to registered nursing skills and expertise (indirect supervision) through remote videoconferencing/telenursing contact with the RDNS direct call centre.
  
  
• Transition into Professional Practice Program
  Partnership with Helping Hand Aged Care (lead), ECH, Lutheran Homes Inc, University of SA, funded by Department of Health and Ageing
  This project aims to test a model of transition to professional practice for newly graduated registered nurses, with a university driven education model. This offers new graduates a career trajectory into aged care and encourages them to complete a transition year into nursing with an aged care focus, and then to have credit towards completing a Graduate Diploma in Nursing (aged care).
  
  
• Nurse Practitioner Program
  In collaboration with the Southern Adelaide Palliative Services, funded by the Department of Health and Ageing
  The Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner in Aged Care Project is utilising once off seed funding to develop, test and evaluate a model for the Nurse Practitioner in aged care. 
  
  
• Clinical Placement Programs
  In partnership with the University of Adelaide, funded by Health Workforce Australia
  Funding was awarded to the University of Adelaide for two projects:
  
  
  • To increase clinical placements for nursing students. The project will provide a structured learning and placement environment for first year, second year and third year nursing students, including access to an education hub (based at Resthaven Mitcham) and clinical educator resources.
    
    
  • To increase clinical placements for medical students in community and residential aged care for third, fourth and fifth year medical students, including the development of an education hub at Resthaven Paradise and Eastern Community Services.
    
    

In addition to these projects, Resthaven provides funding for a number of scholarship programs:

• Flinders University of South Australia:
  There are seven undergraduate and one post‐graduate (Master of Nursing Science ‐ Nurse Practitioner) scholarships available for the period 2011‐2014.The Resthaven Undergraduate Nursing Scholarship is to encourage study related to aged care and to provide financial assistance to students in the Bachelor of Nursing. The scholarship has a value of $5000 per annum for each full time student. The duration of the scholarship is two years for students enrolled in the Bachelor of Nursing (Pre-registration) and the Bachelor or Nursing (Graduate Entry). The scholarship duration is one year for students enrolled in the Bachelor of Nursing (Re-entry). In 2011 three scholarships were awarded.
  
  In addition, a Resthaven Research Scholarship has been established to support a suitably qualified graduate to carry out a program of study in disaster management in residential aged care facilities and older people in the community. This will lead to the award of Doctor of Philosophy.
  
  
• University of Adelaide
  There are eight undergraduate and two postgraduate scholarships (Master of Nursing Science ‐ Nurse Practitioner) for students in their second and final year of nursing at the University of Adelaide are available over the period 2011‐2014. They are the first for the University's Discipline of Nursing program. Each scholarship is valued at $5000 per annum payable for a maximum period of two years.
  
  One postgraduate scholarship is available to a student undertaking the Master of Nurse Practitioner program at the University of Adelaide. The scholarship is valued at $5000 per year. The scholarship is available for one year to students who are studying full time, and up to two years for students who are studying on a part time basis.
  
  
• University of South Australia
  Resthaven will support seven undergraduate scholarships for second year nursing students with a genuine interest in aged care, each of $10,000 over two years and two single nursing grants of $5000 for third year students. One of the scholarships will support a student at the Mt Gambier campus.
  
  In addition, Resthaven has funded a Master of Nursing Science (Nurse Practitioner) Scholarship and a Perpetual Scholarship for Indigenous Nurses. The Resthaven Board is particularly committed to providing practical support to encourage indigenous Australians. They have established a perpetual undergraduate nursing scholarship for an indigenous student to develop their clinical nursing skills in order to be able to work within the broader community.
  
  
• Alzheimer's Australia Research
  The Resthaven Inc. Postgraduate Research Scholarship
  The Resthaven Inc. Postgraduate Research Scholarship will be offered to a student undertaking a research PhD in an area relevant to quality in dementia care. The scholarship is valued at $30,000 per annum for three years, with the possibility of 6 months extension.