Bob Fenwick died in January from wounds he sustained while defending a younger nurse from an attack by a patient at the hospital.

In memory of Mr Fenwick’s dedication as a mentor to less experienced nurses at Bloomfield, the NSW Nurses’ Association has established the Bob Fenwick Memorial Mentoring Grants Program.

On its website, the nurses’ association says the program “aims to encourage experienced mental health nurses to mentor less-experienced colleagues, for the betterment of mental health service provision in NSW.”

After his death, Mr Fenwick’s colleagues spoke of how the senior nurse was a “go-to man” for new nurses looking for guidance.

“Bob took people under his wing and really looked after them,” Bloomfield operations nurse manager Jason Crisp said.

“I just think that this is the best way the association could have acted to really remember somebody and leave a lasting legacy that reflects the person.

“I think Bob would have been a bit embarrassed by it - he did those things just because it was in his nature and not because he wanted any special recognition.

“But it is a really fitting way to remember him.”

The statewide program, which will begin next year, will be funded by NSW Health and managed by the nurses’ association.

It is open to mental health nurses with less than two years experience, with preference given to nurses in rural and remote areas.

The grant recipients will be offered experience at a metropolitan mental health facility and ongoing guidance from a senior nurse.

Mr Crisp said the program would allow registered nurses to go to other facilities around the state and be mentored by expert staff in in their field.

“Having a senior nurse to take them under their wing and show them the ropes is a good thing to do,” he said.

“It’s people like Bob who attract nurses into mental health.”

Mr Crisp said Bloomfield staff had “pulled together” since Mr Fenwick’s death.

He said the hospital had worked closely with Mr Fenwick’s family and was planning a memorial garden for him.

“As we get closer to the one year anniversary, we will be looking at what we can do for him,” he said.