They call Waikato District Health Board's annual nurse recruitment
day for graduate nurse applicants, an easy sell.

It's easy to see why.

More than 105 applicants attended the day at Waikato Hospital this week
where they underwent short 20-minute interviews aimed at helping DHB
staff get to know them.

Then the nurse graduates got the opportunity to meet both senior nurses
and current graduates working within the DHB to see which area might
suit them best if they get a job at Waikato.

Waikato DHB nurse entry to practice programme co-ordinator Megan
Abraham said the day was unique.

"There were two sessions with 20 senior nurses participating," she
said.

The sessions broke into three groups. While one group went through the
interview process, the other two groups mixed and mingled with staff
from the clinical areas to display their specialties with displays.

"The concept behind the recruitment day is that as much as the
applicants sell themselves to us we sell the DHB to them, knowing they
leave with a feeling of wanting to come to Waikato DHB.

"Also as many of them have had limited interview experience it is a
way of making the day more relaxing and informal," said Mrs Abraham.

Those that were unable to attend the day have the opportunity for a
phone interview. From the 114 interviewed approximately 65 will get jobs
at the DHB.

Waikato DHB director of nursing and midwifery Sue Hayward said the
senior nurses enjoyed the day as it gave them the opportunity to meet
and interact with potential new staff.

"As the interviewing is quite fast many feel like they have had a
speed dating experience which adds to the enjoyment of the day.

"What's been wonderful is the number of student nurses coming along
to be interviewed who clearly can see that there has been no better time
than now to enter the profession as it provides the foundation for many
career options.

"Nursing gives individuals the chance to be involved in a unique
relationship with patients and families and to make a difference to
health outcomes. The education nurses get means they develop a unique
body of knowledge that combines skills and caring everyday," said Mrs
Hayward.

Any person interested in pursuing nursing and midwifery as a career can
either go to our website www.waikatodhb.govt.nz for further information
or the local school of nursing such as Wintec, or if still at school,
they should contact their careers advisors.

About Waikato District Health Board and Health Waikato:
Waikato DHB is responsible for planning, funding and providing quality
health and disability support services for the 360,270 people living in
the Waikato DHB region. It has an annual turnover of $1 billion and
employs more than 5800 people.
Health Waikato is the DHB's main provider of hospital and health
services with an annual budget of more than $606 million and 4740 staff.
It has seven divisions across five hospital sites, two maternity and
continuing care hospitals and 21 community bases offering a
comprehensive range of primary, secondary and tertiary health services.
A wide range of independent providers delivers other Waikato DHB-funded
health services - including primary health, pharmacies and community
laboratories.

For more information visit the website listed below:
http://www.waikatodhb.govt.nz

ENDS