he Lecture Theatre at PMH overflowed with joy and laughter on 16 August as Kowloon West Cluster (KWC) welcomed the second intake of fresh nurse graduates to its Social and Professional Reality Integration for New Nurse Graduates (SPRING) Programme.

In the following 10 months, the new Registered Nurses will be under the caring guidance of ward supervisors and mentors as they embark on their first year in the nursing profession. The Programme arranges regular gatherings, where the new RNs and their long-serving peers can share experience, learn and gain timely emotional and professional support in their work. The RNs who participated in last year's Programme confirmed that having a mentor's support meant they never felt alone when they encountered difficulties. It also gave them greater confidence as they performed their duties, and earned them the respect of their colleagues.

Ms Adela LAI, KWC's Cluster General Manager (Nursing), shares colleagues' observation. "I can witness the change of fresh RNs. They have become more confident in expressing their feelings and get ready to face the challenges."

Dr Nancy Tung, KWC's Cluster Chief Executive, concurs, "SPRING provides strong support to our young nurses,"

Originally piloted in PMH in August 2009, the SPRING Programme has been modelled on the Johns Hopkins Hospital Programme, with modifications to suit local needs in terms of content and resources. It aims to provide timely support to fresh graduates during their first year as RNs, so that they can integrate into their working environment better and faster. It also helps to strengthen their caring culture and understanding about the value of their work.