Jayden
Ivens
Enrolled Nurse traineeship profile –
Jayden Ivens
Ballarat local Jayden Ivens has commenced an Enrolled Nurse (EN) Traineeship through Ballarat Health Services – part of Grampians Health.
Jayden is working as a chef at a local Ballarat restaurant but always wanted to be a nurse. Having studied a Diploma of Health Science at LaTrobe TAFE in 2021, and jumped at the chance to get some hands-on experience in nursing while also studying to gain a Diploma of Nursing through Federation TAFE.
“I’ve always wanted to be a nurse, my dad’s a nurse and my great grandfather’s a primary care nurse (PCN), and I’ve always wanted to be a nurse because of them,” Jayden said. “My nan works at Ballarat Base Hospital and saw a flyer for the EN Traineeship, and said that it’s a good way to learn – as opposed to sitting in a classroom the whole time, being able to get hands on and learn that way. Earning a bit of money whilst doing it is always nice too.
“I’m enjoying it – last year was very much class to class and full on study, where here even the lectures we do are more hands-on. We did safe patient handling two weeks into the course and that was a lot of fun. It made you feel like you’ve got straight into it, and we’re starting working with placement at the start of March, so we’ll be able to put it into practice soon.”
Jayden is looking forward to having hands-on experience with his first placement at Jack Lonsdale Lodge beginning in March.
“I’m excited for the two-year journey and getting to know everybody in the class quite well. It’s a lot more supportive and hands-on environment than uni, a lot of people in the class agree that it’s a better way to learn – we’re learning and applying skills as we go.
“I think there are 4 or 5 trainees going to Jack Lonsdale which will be good – instead of getting a job on my own where I’m completely new, at least there are a few familiar faces who I will already know.”
The EN Trainee program is a two-year course, with Edenhope, Horsham and Stawell programs commencing by 31 March and completing around April 2024. Successful applicants are paid to earn while they learn, and will rotate through placements every 3 months to gain skills across a range of healthcare settings.
On graduating, EN Trainees are qualified Enrolled Nurses, many of whom will join the largest nursing workforce in the Grampians region at Grampians Health in a full-time, part-time or casual capacity. Enrolled Nurses are also able to further their studies and complete a Bachelor of Nursing to become a Registered Nurse (RN), which is something Jayden has his sights set on.
“I really want to become a RN, but I don’t know whether I’ll go straight into that or if I’ll wait a little bit. Paediatrics is probably the end goal, I think I’d really like to do that or maybe something surgical as well.”
Applications for EN Traineeship positions at Edenhope, Horsham and Stawell close on Wednesday 23 February.