Ward 4BR, the Acute Renal Inpatient Unit is proud of our Renal Specific Orientation Program that has been developed to orientate new nursing staff to our Ward. Every new nurse is allocated a Preceptor/Buddy, who will provide support and help orientate them to the Hospital and Ward.

Hospital Wide Orientation is followed by a 2 week supernumerary period where a ward specific orientation is completed. A "seek and find" Check List, Multiple Renal Specific Competencies, Self Learning Packages, Renal Clinical Pathways, Renal Manuals, Renal Palliative Care Manual,Discharge Planning, etc have been developed.

The Renal Educator and Renal Clinical Facilitators are heavily utilised. These education positions were additions to our Renal Departments overall nursing establishment in 2005 and 2006.

Our nursing staff have access to all Hospital Wide Inservices and Ward Based Inservices. Three structured study days are incorporated into their roster during their first year. A Renal Education Day is run by the Renal Educator. A Renal Rotation Program or Hospital Orientation Program is available to New Graduate Nurses. Due to popularity a Renal Rotation Program for experienced renal nurses is currently being developed.

The Renal Transition Program is available, where a Masters of Nephrology can follow. Our Ward "home grows" our own Registered Nurses. We support Assistant in Nursing and Enrolled Nurses to become Registered Nurses by accomodating their rosters to enable them to achieve their studies.

Without this constant preceptoring provided by our staff, this Renal Specific Ward Orientation Program would not be possible.