The SA Government has announced it will double the number of graduate nurses joining SA Health. 

Under a $25 million plan announced over the weekend, SA Health Minister Chris Picton says the number of graduate nurses entering a three-year traineeship with SA Health will be driven up from 600 to 1,200.

The initiative is intended to reduce burn-out experienced by nurses under significant pressure.

“That's why having additional nurses coming in means we can appropriately fill those shifts, reduce our use of casual and agency nurses, reduce the number of people who are having to do double shifts and reduce the pressure on our nurses, which means they're more likely to stay and want to be part of SA Health in the long term,” he said.

SA Health's Chief Nurse and Midwifery Officer, Professor Jenny Hurley, says more support and supervision will be provided for nurses entering the profession.

“This is about us providing a sustainable workforce for the future and it is critical that we do this investment and nurture and keep our nurses and midwives,” she said.