Responding to the needs of new graduate nurses has potential long-term advantages for health care organisations and can influence both quality and delivery of care.
Historically, economic changes have negatively affected the nursing workforce in Ontario. The trend towards part-time and casual employment emerged from healthcare restructuring in the 1990s. The severe acute respiratory syndrome (sARs) outbreak in 2003 alerted the Ontario government to the issue of part-time and casual nursing. In 2007, the Nursing Graduate Guarantee (NGG), a health human resources employment policy, was developed as a financial incentive for employers to hire and mentor new graduate nurses for a six-month period. The purpose of this study was to examine facilitators and barriers to policy implementation and assess the Workforce Integration of New Graduate Nurses: Evaluation of a Health Human Resources Employment Policy Intégration de la main-d' oeuvre chez les nouveaux diplômés en soins infirmiers : évaluation d'une politique d' emploi dans les ressources humaines en santé
Aim
To determine how extended orientation enhances the work readiness of new graduate nurses as they transitioned to their professional role in a specialty care hospital.
Background
Given increased complexity of care and high‐patient acuity, there is concern about the work readiness of new graduate nurses in specialty areas.
Design
Qualitative exploratory study using an inductive approach.
Methods
An integrative literature review was conducted to abstract characteristics of work readiness among new graduate nurses. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 41 participants from a large paediatric specialty hospital in Ontario, Canada, in 2014. The sample of nurses was stratified and included nurse managers, new graduates, and preceptors. Interview texts were interpreted using thematic analysis.
Results
A framework for enhancing work readiness of new graduates transitioning to specialty care was developed from the interview and literature findings. Interview data demonstrate an extended orientation that includes mentorship, a gradual increase in clinical responsibilities, and involvement in the professional role during the early stages of a nurse's career can enhance work readiness of new graduates. Four key areas of work readiness were identified in the literature: personal characteristics, clinical characteristics, relational characteristics, and organizational acuity.
Conclusion
Based on the study results, new graduate nurses can be an integral part of the team in specialty care provided certain conditions are met during their transition to practice. Our study gives further evidence that extended orientation enhances new graduates’ work readiness as they transit to their professional role.
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