LEETON District Hospital has welcomed a new graduate nurse to its ranks.
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It is the first time a graduate nurse has started at the hospital for some time, with Katrina Lee from Ballina taking up the position.
Miss Lee completed her nursing at Southern Cross University late last year and this will be her first full-time position as a registered nurse.
She arrived in Leeton on Saturday, with her first shift on Monday.
"I decided to get involved in nursing because I wanted a change," Miss Lee said.
"Before that I was working in office administration and I had always wanted to do more.
"I wanted to do something that would give me more satisfaction and a job where I was more involved with people.
"It's challenging, but exciting at the same time."
This year the Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD), which includes Leeton, has recruited 47 graduate nurses.
Miss Lee has been employed on a 12-month contract, but may stay longer if given the opportunity.
MLHD director of nursing and midwifery Antje Badger was happy to see graduates seeking to start their careers in rural areas.
"It is particularly pleasing that 70 per cent of the graduate nurses selected the MLHD as their first preference," she said.
Miss Lee is yet to decide what area of nursing she would like to specialise in, but deputy nurse unit manager Craig McColm already considers her an asset to the hospital.
"We are very pleased Katrina is here," he said. "We haven't had a new graduate here for many years.
"For us we'll be supporting Katrina wherever possible ... she will also link up with other nurses through various training courses."
