Fostering graduate nurse practice readiness in context

Experiences of bullying and coping resources in nursing students during clinical placement

BACKGROUND

Nursing students are particularly susceptible to bullying due to their younger age, limited social experience, and less developed psychological resilience.

OBJECTIVES

To analyze nursing students' current state of bullying and coping resources, analyzing their relevance.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study using a web survey.

SETTINGS

The study was conducted in six nursing schools in Hubei, Guangdong, and Gansu Provinces, China.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 526 valid responses were obtained from January and March 2024.

METHODS

Data were collected using questionnaires for background data, the Negative Acts Questionnaire-Revised, the Hospital Workplace Violence Questionnaire, and the Workplace Violence Coping Resources Scale. The data were analyzed through descriptive statistics, Spearman's correlation analysis, and multivariate logistic regression.

RESULTS

The score for workplace bullying among nursing students during clinical placement was 26.00 (22.00, 37.00), indicating a mild level compared to the total median score of 55 on the scale. Of the 526 respondents, 306 (58.17 %) reported experiencing bullying during this period. The score for nursing students' coping resources was 60.00 (50.00, 69.25), indicating a medium-to-low level compared with the scale's total median score of 60. There was a negative correlation between workplace bullying and coping resources (rs = -0.244, p < 0.01), indicating that as the coping resources scores decreased, workplace bullying scores increased. Logistic analysis revealed that being single or not, whether the hospital organized lectures or courses on the subject during clinical placements, and organizational support were significant factors influencing workplace bullying (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Nursing students were found to experience significant levels of bullying during clinical placements alongside moderate coping resources. The adequacy of these coping resources was closely linked to the incidence of bullying. To address this issue effectively, nursing education should focus on the contributing factors, promote a culture of safety, and enhance the coping resources available to students. These efforts are essential for the prevention and mitigation of bullying, ultimately fostering a supportive and empowering learning environment for prospective nurses.

A programme theory for a transition programme for novice nurses in emergency departments: A realist review

AIMS

To develop a programme theory for a transition programme for novice nurses working in emergency departments.

DESIGN

A realist review was conducted, guided by the Realist and Meta-narrative Evidence Synthesis-Evolving Standards publication standards.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus, and the Wiley Online Library.

REVIEW METHODS

A realist review methodology was used to consider the contexts, mechanisms, and outcomes of transition programmes implemented in emergency departments. The Population, Concept, Context framework was used to develop a search strategy. Four reviewers independently screened the records using Rayyan. Conflicting decisions were evaluated against the inclusion and exclusion criteria to reach a consensus. The data were extracted literatim to a Google form and exported in an Excel spreadsheet. The frequencies for categorical data were calculated, and the textual data were thematically analysed. The theories supporting the programme theory were identified using a Behaviour of Interest, Health context, Exclusions and Models or Theories (BeHeMoth) search.

RESULTS

Eleven reports of the 1275 records met the inclusion criteria. Three contextual factors influencing the transition programme, namely, the characteristics of the novice nurse, interpersonal relationships, and the emergency department, were identified. Mechanisms were classified as resources, including programme champions, learning and teaching activities, and responses to the programme. The primary outcomes included novice nurses and emergency departments. Secondary outcomes included the establishment of educational support structures. The final programme theory was developed based on the review results and supporting theories.

CONCLUSION

Novice nurses with specific characteristics will most likely become proficient in a well-equipped and well-maintained emergency department when sufficient support is offered while maintaining healthy interpersonal relationships. A transition programme that is provided by experts and codesigned is one way of supporting novice nurses.

Readiness for professional practice among health professions education graduates: a systematic review

Readiness to practice is the state of being prepared and capable of engaging in professional activities in a specific field. Graduates of healthcare professions require a diverse set of skills, knowledge and attitudes to meet the demands of complex healthcare settings. This systematic review provides a comprehensive analysis of readiness for professional practice among graduates of health professions education. It encompasses a wide range of articles published between 2013 and 2024, incorporating various health professions and utilizing a combination of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods designs. The review identified 93 studies from 32 diverse countries. The review revealed that factors influencing readiness to practice, include individual capabilities, the workplace context, and educational provision. It also explored strategies to enhance readiness to practice. The findings underscore the significance of addressing challenges such as lack of confidence, stress, communication, time management, job satisfaction, clinical experience, academic workload, teaching quality, mentorship and curriculum design. This comprehensive analysis serves as a valuable resource for healthcare educators, policymakers, and practitioners seeking to optimize the preparedness of graduates for the complexities of contemporary healthcare environments. Future studies should explore the interactions between readiness to practice stakeholders' perception of the educational curriculum, and the quality of support in the professional practice environment.

New graduate nurses' readiness for practice, transition and integration into the workplace: A longitudinal study with mixed methods research

AIM

To examine the readiness of new graduate nurses for practice and evaluate factors influencing their transition into the workplace.

BACKGROUND

This is new research in Bahrain. Understanding readiness for practice is important during a time when there is a national initiative to promote nursing as a career among the indigenous Bahraini population. The worldwide nursing shortages and aging workforce require new and innovative recruitment and retention measures. There is change, increased demand and complexity, in nursing and healthcare needs with accompanying healthcare specialization. In such a health care environment, the transitioning and readiness of newly qualified nurses is an increasing challenge.

DESIGN

A longitudinal design, with a triangulated, mixed methods, research approach was used.

METHODS

The study population consisted of 50 newly graduated nurses. Data were collected over one year through self-administered questionnaires, reflective diaries and focus groups. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS and qualitative data using thematic analysis with adherence to GRAMMS reporting guidelines.

RESULTS

In Bahrain, there are actions to recruit young Arabic students to nursing including schools and community presentations by trained nurse ambassadors, social media activities and career exhibitions, however there is a lack of objective information on the perspective of cohorts of nurses who have successfully completed graduate nursing registration programmes and transitioned into practice. International literature suggests that the transition of newly graduated nurses can be stressful and challenging. On entry to practice, the respondents positively perceived their characteristics and attributes; however, their confidence was affected by challenges in the workplace. The transitioning of the new graduate nurses was affected by the availability of support and leadership, induction programmes and the new complex work environment.

CONCLUSION

Understanding work readiness and the emotional needs of new graduate nurses, accompanied by improved support, will enhance the transition of newly qualified nurses into the workplace and reduce attrition.

STUDY REGISTRATION

KHUH/Research/No.279/2019.

Nursing students' work readiness and its influencing factors before participating in a nurse residency program: a multicenter cross-sectional study

Background

Studies have shown that work readiness is closely related to nurses' role adaptation, career development, and patient safety. However, we know little about the nursing students' work readiness and its influencing factors before participating in a nurse residency program, and whether factors have changed from before.

Aim

(1) To investigate the work readiness of nursing students ready to engage in a nurse residency program; (2) to identify the factors affecting the nursing students' work readiness and the associations between emotional intelligence and work readiness; and (3) to discuss the changes of factors affecting nursing students' work readiness.

Design

An online, multicenter cross-sectional study.

Methods

878 nursing students from eight tertiary hospitals in Chongqing, China were recruited. The online investigation used the General Information Questionnaire, the Nursing Students' Work Readiness Scale, and the Emotional Intelligence scale. The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS V23.0.

Results

768 valid questionnaires were included in this study. The nurses obtained a work readiness score of 277.08 ± 44.39 and an emotional intelligence score of 89.57 ± 13.89. Univariate analysis revealed that the following factors affected work readiness: age, sex, family support for becoming a nurse, voluntary choice of nursing major, previous experience as a student cadre, scholarship recipient status, willingness to engage in nursing work during the COVID-19 pandemic and confidence in clinical nursing practice. Frequent incidents of violence, poor salary for nurses for the nurse residency program, and low social acceptance were the top three reasons for decreased confidence in clinical nursing among nursing students. Furthermore, multiple linear regression analysis indicated that age, voluntary choice of nursing major, student leadership experience, confidence in clinical nursing work, self-emotion, and emotional application significantly influenced nurses' work readiness.

Conclusion

Clinical instructors and administrators should dynamically assess nurses' work readiness, prioritize individuals aged ≤23, who have chosen the nursing profession involuntarily, lack prior experience as student cadres, and exhibit low confidence in clinical nursing work. This focus will enhance their emotional self-management skills and ability to apply emotions effectively, improving their work readiness and training efficacy.

Nursing students' experience of bullying and/or harassment during clinical placement

PROBLEM OR BACKGROUND

Bullying is a recognised problem in nursing. Nursing students are particularly vulnerable. Bullying and harassment of nursing students can be detrimental to both students and recipients of care.

AIM

This study aims to identify the incidence and nature of bullying and/or harassment experienced by nursing students in Sri Lanka.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey consisting of eight demographic questions and 15 items specific to the experience of bullying and harassment was administered to nursing students online.

FINDINGS

A total of 656 students from 26 nursing education institutions in Sri Lanka participated. The majority were female with a mean age of 24.4 years. More than a quarter of respondents reported that they had experienced bullying and/or harassment while on clinical placement, with a further 16.7 % being unsure. Most bullying or harassment (55 %) occurred in hospitals with 29 % experienced in community settings. Registered nurses, including nurse managers and clinical facilitators were the most common perpetrators. Verbal abuse was the most frequent type of behaviour reported.

DISCUSSION

These findings support existing literature that indicates that bullying of nursing students is an international phenomenon. The context of this study provides clues as to how culture may influence the problem. There is a need to better understand bullying and harassment in the environments in which it occurs, in order to identify strategies that can bridge cultures and settings.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of bullying and harassment of nursing students in Sri Lanka is concerning. Further research is needed to identify and evaluate targeted strategies to help prevent negative outcomes in all nursing contexts.

Inquiry in uncertainty-nursing students' learning experience in challenge-based learning: A qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Currently, nursing students face a significant lack of preparedness in efficiently addressing complex issues. The use of challenge-based learning, a student-centred situational learning method that utilizes practice scenarios to solve complex problems, can help alleviate the challenges in nurse education. However, there remains to be more extensive exploration on the application of challenge-based learning in nurse practice education.

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to explore the learning experiences of nursing students in challenge-based learning to gain a deeper understanding of the ways and mechanisms through which challenge-based learning enhances specific learning abilities.

DESIGN/METHODS

This study utilized a hermeneutic phenomenological design, employing semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis.

SETTINGS

A university in Hunan, China, hosted the nursing skills competition based on the principles of challenge-based learning, targeting senior students from nursing schools in Hunan province.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 24 fourth-year students from six colleges, including one male and twenty-three female students.

RESULTS

Two themes and seven sub-themes emerged from the study. Theme 1 Constructing a knowledge system in complex scenarios with sub-themes: Case-based education centred on comprehensive knowledge promotes knowledge linkage; Reverse reasoning promotes knowledge differentiation; Making mistakes helps finding the correct path of knowledge; Traps inspire identification of potential problems. Theme 2 Inquiry in uncertainty with sub-themes: Unexpected changes promote exploration of general principles; Combining knowledge with diverse case scenarios promotes flexible thinking; The uncertainty of knowledge fosters independent thinking.

CONCLUSIONS

The complexity and variability inherent in challenging learning situations promote the construction of students' knowledge systems and the cultivation of an inquisitive spirit. The identification of these mechanisms contributes to the optimization of instructional environment design, the development of a culture of continuous learning and innovation, and effectively tackling complex issues within an ever-evolving global context.

Appraising differential capabilities of new graduate nurses: Development across the first nine months of employment

BACKGROUND

Effective transition to practice for new graduate nurses (NGNs) is of national and international concern. Development of NGNs expands well beyond higher education studies and relies heavily on support during their first year of employment. Little is known of the differential development of NGNs, namely the trajectory of developing capability.

AIM

This study differentiates NGN development during their first year of employment through appraisal of universal domains of nursing practice relevant to the international community.

METHODS

Using a quantitative evaluation design NGN performance was appraised at 1-, 3-, and 9-months from February 2020 to November 2021, using a 23-item appraisal tool and accompanying behavioural cues organised around four universal domains of practice: professional values and behaviours; comprehensive nursing practice; organisational capabilities; personal growth and development; and a fifth domain specific to Australia, that is, legislative requirements. Workplace performance was appraised by clinical supervisors and numerically rated according to intensity of coaching required to meet requisite standards of practice.

RESULTS

The shift in rating scores of intensity of coaching required, over three time periods across four key universal domains, were statistically significant (p < .001). These findings which indicate the intensity of required coaching for maintenance of standards reduced over the time period suggest advancing NGN capability. The domain representing professional values consistently rated the highest. The domain denoting legislative requirements largely flattened after three months.

CONCLUSION

These findings corroborate the significant development of NGN capability during the first nine months of employment, especially during the initial three months. Furthermore, they provide empirical evidence that NGNs are most adept at demonstrating professional values; a recognised capability developed through employment during pre-registration studies. Discriminant data is of value to inform both targeted development of individual NGNs and when collated, the education needs of cohorts.

Nurse manager support of graduate nurse development of work readiness: An integrative review

AIM

To systematically review relevant literature to identify how Nurse Managers support graduate nurse work readiness.

BACKGROUND

Graduate nurses face many difficulties when transitioning from student to qualified nurse. Nurse managers establish workplace culture through leadership styles, yet little is known about how they can best support graduate nurses to transition to professional practice in the acute hospital environment.

DESIGN

A five-step, systematic integrative review reported in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 Checklist.

METHODS

The steps of the review method included (1) problem identification, (2) literature search, (3) data evaluation and quality appraisal, (4) data extraction and analysis and (5) presentation. Analysis used the Framework method and was guided by theory of graduate nurse work readiness and the Theoretical Domains Framework.

DATA SOURCES

MEDLINE COMPLETE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health (CINAHL) Complete, ERIC and PSYCINFO searched in December 2020.

RESULTS

Studies eligible for inclusion (N = 40) represented research from 15 countries; most (67.5%, n = 27) used a qualitative design, 22.5% (n = 9) were quantitative and 10% (n = 4) used mixed methods. Three themes related to the social constructs and local area work environments influenced by nurse managers emerged: supporting people, supportive environment and supporting learning.

CONCLUSION

The review identified a lack of robust evidence about the effectiveness of specific nurse manager-led strategies to support development of graduate work readiness. However, the findings provide a framework to guide nurse managers in supporting graduate nurses and provide a foundation for further research about nurse manager roles in developing graduate work readiness.

IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION OR PATIENT CARE

Previous research has described poor transition of graduate nurses as responsible for increased workplace errors, decreased job satisfaction and high rates of attrition. Exploring the role of nurse managers in graduate nurse transition is essential to ensure quality patient care and a sustainable workforce.

IMPACT

What Problem Did the Study Address? Graduate nurses face many difficulties when transitioning from student to qualified nurse. Nurse managers establish workplace culture through leadership styles, yet little is known about how they can best support graduate nurses to transition to professional practice in the acute hospital environment. What Were the Main Findings? High rates of attrition are attributed to poor support during the initial transition phase of graduate nurses. Nurse managers can impact transition by providing a supportive environment, support learning and by providing a team of supportive people. Where and on whom will the research have an impact? The research will have an impact on graduate nurses and nurse managers.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

No patient or public contribution (integrative review exploring existing literature). This integrative review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021213142).

Readiness to Practice in Health Care: An Empirical Definition Based on a Content Analysis of the Literature

BACKGROUND

Health care services require practitioners to be ready to practice (R2P), but evidence shows new graduates vary in R2P. Unfortunately, there is a lack of clarity about what R2P entails.

METHOD

A content analysis of the empirical literature (Gaur & Kumar, 2018) was used to quantify the elements and higher-order categories of R2P.

RESULTS

Across 108 articles, professional development activities, communication, previous experience, confidence, clinical skills, patient-centered care, integration of knowledge, teamwork, competency, management, and interpersonal skills were used to define R2P at least 25% of the time. We identified seven domains of R2P: clinical experience, social experiences, professional development experiences, personal attributes, cognitive aspects, onboarding experiences, and educational experiences.

CONCLUSION

Our study empirically defined what is associated with health professionals who were perceived as or perceived themselves as R2P in health care. Our results inform training, preparation, research, and the transition from medical training to the workplace. [J Contin Educ Nurs. 2023;54(7):302-312.].

An Example of Inquiry-Based Learning in a Transition to Nursing Practice Curriculum

BACKGROUND

Graduate nurses are known to experience transition shock when they enter the workforce. Graduate nurse programs are designed to alleviate aspects of transition shock.

METHOD

Best practice in development and delivery of transition programs is currently limited in the literature, and there are few examples focusing on curriculum design that can be adapted by health services to develop and support new nurses.

RESULTS

An inquiry-based learning approach was used as the underlying andragogy to frame a contemporary transition curriculum to support graduate nurses.

CONCLUSION

Inquiry-based learning can be used to support graduate nurses to improve critical thinking, confidence, and job satisfaction during the most challenging years of their professional lives. [J Contin Educ Nurs. 2023;54(6):268-274.].

Assessing the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Nursing Education: A National Study of Prelicensure RN Programs

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on prelicensure nursing education, leading to widespread disruptions that may have implications for nursing students' learning and engagement outcomes. Understanding how the rapid shift to online and simulation-based teaching methods has affected new graduates' clinical preparedness is critical to ensure patient safety moving forward.

Purpose

To assess the impact of institutional, academic, and demographic characteristics on prelicensure nursing students' academic, initial postgraduation, and early career outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

We conducted a mixed-methods longitudinal study focused on prelicensure registered nurse (RN) students entering the core of their didactic and clinical nursing coursework during the pandemic. This study uses a combination of real-time student and faculty self-report data, including externally validated instruments, within and end-of-program standardized test scores, and focus group findings. Various statistical methods, ranging from simpler descriptive and non-parametric methods to Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) models and detailed textual analysis, are applied to assess student, faculty, and institution-level data.

Results

The final sample includes more than 1,100 student and faculty participants affiliated with 51 prelicensure RN programs located across 27 states. Leveraging more than 4,000 course observations collected from fall 2020 to spring 2022 and supplemented by the rich personal narratives of over 60 focus group participants, this study illuminates the breadth, scale, and ever-evolving nature of prelicensure RN programs' efforts to maintain the continuity of nursing students' education during the public health crisis. In doing so, it captures the many ways in which nursing administrators, faculty, and students sought to address the unparalleled challenges they confronted on a day-to-day basis. In particular, the findings provide critical insights into the efficacy of the changes nursing programs made to their course delivery formats to adjust to the confluence of rapidly evolving federal, state, and private restrictions to stem the spread of COVID-19.

Conclusion

This study stands as the most comprehensive assessment of prelicensure nursing education in the United States since the onset of COVID-19. It extends knowledge by linking potential deficiencies in students' didactic and clinical education during the pandemic and their early career preparedness, clinical competence, and the patient safety implications therein.

Role transition of newly graduated nurses from nursing students to registered nurses: A qualitative systematic review

BACKGROUND

The transition experience of newly graduated registered nurses is highly stressful and associated with high attrition rates.

OBJECTIVES AND DESIGN

This qualitative systematic review aims to consolidate the available evidence on the experiences of newly graduated registered nurses' role transition from nursing students to registered nurses.

DATA SOURCES

English language research published between 2010 and 2022 was searched using PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, Embase, PsycInfo and ProQuest Dissertations and Thesis databases.

REVIEW METHODS

Data were extracted using a data extraction form and appraised using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) tool for published studies or the Authority, Accuracy, Coverage, Objectivity, Date, Significance checklist for unpublished studies or grey literature, respectively.

RESULTS

The review included 25 studies and the meta-synthesis identified four themes: (a) Knowledge deficit, (b) Overwhelming clinical practise, (c) Importance of workplace support, and (d) Meaning of "being a nurse".

CONCLUSIONS

Newly graduated registered nurses experienced facing knowledge deficits in the clinical setting and felt overwhelmed with work, especially for newly graduated registered nurses during the Covid-19 pandemic. Support from colleagues was invaluable, and they wished for better support through standardised transition programs. Despite nursing being mentally and physically exhausting, many newly graduated registered nurses regarded their profession satisfying and meaningful, however some eventually resigned. Understanding the transition experiences of newly graduated registered nurses can provide valuable insights on how to facilitate their transition and in turn decrease attrition rates, and ensure safe care for the patients and that public healthcare needs are met.

Student Employment Models for Undergraduate Nurses and Midwives in Australia: A Scoping Review

Introduction

Evidence has shown that throughout their undergraduate years, many nursing and midwifery students obtain paid employment in a wide variety of clinical and non-clinical positions. Across Australia, inconsistencies exist in the models of clinical employment available to these student groups. Previous Australian studies have described the employment of undergraduate nursing and midwifery students in regulated and unregulated clinical roles. No studies have reported on the various regulated roles available to both student nurses and midwives in Australia. The purpose of this scoping review is to identify and synthesize evidence related to nursing and/or midwifery students employed in regulated and unregulated clinical roles in Australia.

Methods

This scoping review utilized published recommendations for data screening, abstraction, and synthesis. One of the authors, a librarian, undertook systematic searches in CINAHL Complete (1937-present), Emcare on Ovid (1995-present), Scopus (1969-present), and Ovid MEDLINE(R) (including Epub Ahead of Print, In-Process, and In-Data-Review & Other Non-Indexed Citations, 1946-present). The initial searches were completed in April 2019 and repeated in March 2021 and May 2022 to identify any new literature. Manual searching of reference lists in the included papers was also undertaken, together with selected organizational websites. The extracted data included the lead author, date, title, study design, study sample and location, and key findings.

Results

From the 53 items retrieved, 23 peer-reviewed studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. All items were published between 2011 and 2022. Only four of the studies focused upon student midwives. Undergraduate nursing and midwifery students in Australia obtain paid employment in a variety of regulated and unregulated clinical roles.

Conclusion

The literature reported here demonstrates that there are differing models, nomenclature, educational requirements, and pay scales in place for student employment in clinical roles across Australian states and territories.

Undergraduate Nursing Students' Readiness to Practice: Views of the Senior Students in the United Arab Emirates

BACKGROUND

Nursing literature identifies difficulties facing new graduates in managing their responsibilities as registered nurses. The ability of new graduates to be practice-ready upon entry to the workplace remains a challenging concern for nurse educators.

PURPOSE

This study investigated the perceptions of senior students toward their readiness to practice safely and independently and perform registered nurses' job-specific requirements upon graduation.

METHODS

A descriptive design using quantitative and qualitative methods was used to conduct the study. Data were collected from a sample of 117 senior nursing students in the United Arab Emirates using the Casey-Fink Readiness to Practice Survey.

RESULTS

Senior students felt confident to manage the care of 2 to 3 patients, communicate with patients and interdisciplinary teams, solve clinical problems, prioritize patients' care, and recognize significant changes in patient conditions. Areas of concern were their ability to care for more than 3 patients, among others, such as caring for dying patients and performing catheter insertion/irrigation.

CONCLUSION

Students need better learning opportunities and closer guidance, support, and on-time feedback in clinical settings.

Investigating Relationships Between Preparedness for Practice, Grade Point Average, and Demographic Correlates Among Prelicensure Nursing Students

ABSTRACT

Understanding the factors contributing to the clinical preparedness of nursing students provides essential information for their successful transition into the workforce. The aims of this study were to examine preparedness for practice with demographic factors, grade point average, and taking care of multiple patient caseloads. This study used a correlational design with 185 prelicensure nursing students in the midwestern United States. The results showed that self-reported clinical preparedness was associated with program type and externship experience. The findings contribute to nursing education by bringing new information that contributes to the understanding of students' preparedness for practice.

The impact of postgraduate education in transition to practice programmes on new graduate nurses' knowledge and skills: A pre- post survey design

BACKGROUND

Research indicates that nurses perceive postgraduate education to have a positive effect on their knowledge and practice. Many jurisdictions offer/require new graduate nurses to undertake postgraduate coursework however the consequences of this are not clear.

OBJECTIVES

This research aims to determine the impact of completing a postgraduate course in clinical assessment on the capabilities of new graduate nurses.

DESIGN

A two group pre/post design with a naturally occurring intervention employing an online questionnaire was used to gather data.

SETTINGS

Two metropolitan hospitals in New Zealand delivering new graduate programmes, one inclusive of a postgraduate course and the other not.

PARTICIPANTS

Eighty five nurses completed the questionnaire on commencement of the programme and fifty-two on completion of the programme.

METHODS

An online questionnaire was administered to two new graduate cohorts, on commencement and completion of their new graduate programme.

RESULTS

Results showed significant pre/post increases for four out of five factors for those who had completed a postgraduate course compared to only one significant increase for those who had not. In addition, when comparing the scores of the two groups there was no significant differences between groups on the pre-measures. However, on post measures there were significant differences with the postgraduate group scoring higher on three of the five subscales: Knowledge for Practice, Explaining Practice and Applied Diagnostic Reasoning.

CONCLUSION

It is the author's belief that this is the first study that has attempted to quantify new graduate nurses' perceptions of their educational experience in their first year of practice and suggests that the inclusion of the postgraduate course enhanced knowledge for practice and diagnostic reasoning skills.