Entry to Practice Student Nurse Clinical Placements
The Royal Children's Hospital (RCH) is committed to the Entry to Practice Student Nurse Program and to providing supported learning opportunities for entry to practice student nurses in a paediatric acute, sub-acute care and mental health clinical setting.
This is an opportunity for student nurses to consolidate their knowledge in paediatric acute, sub-acute and mental health clinical settings, and work towards clinical competency.
Clinical education will be facilitated either by a ward-based Preceptor or Clinical Educator of the RCH. Nursing students are provided with the opportunity to care for children and families in a supportive learning environment. This support will provide
students with feedback about development of their nursing knowledge and skills while in a practice setting.
Expressions of interest for placements is via the university and health service relationship and Department of Health approved processes. Direct requests from students are not permitted.
Placement orientation
Students are required to complete pre-placement documentation and undertake orientation upon commencement.
It is highly recommended that all Entry to Practice nursing students read the below information and access the RCH student orientation
website prior to commencing clinical placement.
Preparation for Orientation
Entry to Practice Student Nurse Program Orientation Declaration & Emergency Contact Information link will be provided to students via email and will be required to be completed before commencing placement.
It is a requirement that students present the following documents and forms to the Educator when they attend the Orientation Day Session:
- Hand hygiene Australia Learning package,
- Work with Children's Check Card (copies not accepted, physical or digital card required)
Rosters
Rosters will encompass full rotating shifts
including mornings, afternoon, night duty and weekend shifts. Your rosters will be distributed on your first day of clinical placement.
The Royal Children's Hospital and The University of
Melbourne Paediatric Nursing Fellowship
This program, developed in partnership with The University of Melbourne, offers Master of Nursing Science (entry-to-practice) students experience across the duration of their studies, within a paediatric setting at The RCH. Supported by theoretical content
within the elective subject Foundations of Paediatric Nursing, students will have the opportunity to explore the impact of hospitalisation on children, develop acumen in assessment and nursing management of paediatric patients, and appreciate common
paediatric conditions responsible for presentation to hospital.
The Fellowship program is designed to provide Master of Nursing Science (MNSc) students with foundational paediatric nursing knowledge and skills to be built on during their nursing career as paediatric Registered Nurse (RNs) and to provide a pre-registration
pathway to support and attract nurses to paediatric practice.
Applications for 2026 Nursing Fellow positions are now
closed.
Learn about the different RCH wards
Car parking
Limited Car Parking is available on Flemington Road (at a small cost)
The
RCH's guide for car parking provides information regarding the hospital car park.
Key contact
Nursing Education- Early Career Programs
Entry to Practice Team
Telephone: 9345 5775
Email: nursing.placements@rch.org.au
Universities only are to make contact with the Nurse Educator for any information or documentation regarding clinical placements. Students should make contact with their respective University.