Record nurse influx not the answer

The New South Wales Opposition says a record number of newly graduated nurses will only increase the stress on staff at the state's busiest public hospitals.

Premier Morris Iemma has announced 1,600 new nurses will start working in hospitals across the state from January 14.
It brings the total number of registered nurses in NSW to 42,000, an increase of about 400 over last year's intake and nearly 25 per cent over 2002 levels.
Mr Iemma says the growing number of nurses will lead to better health care and will help restore the reputation of Royal North Shore (RNS) Hospital, which has been the subject of a damning inquiry.
"My Government's number one-priority is to continue to improve health services across the state and continue the work already underway to restore the reputation of this very fine teaching hospital," he said.
But Opposition health spokeswoman Jillian Skinner says newly graduated nurses are not the solution to ease the stress on staff at public hospitals.
Ms Skinner says the inquiry into RNS Hospital showed nurses need to be supervised for about four years when they graduate.
"These 128 new graduates will only add to the pressure on the hospital staff existing," she said. "They need experienced staff to help train them."
She says nurses straight out of university are inexperienced and need training to cope with the demands of the job.
"Otherwise, it will be a total waste of their skill, commitment and willingness to work in our system," she said.
"They all burnout and they will leave within a couple of year, which is the norm right now."

Article from www.abc.net.au