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Interest is growing for information on recently qualified nurses' initial meeting with working life. This study aims to shed light on recently qualified nurses' experience working in home health care. The authors chose to design the study using a phenomenological hermeneutical approach with narrative interviews and text analysis. The respondents consist of a group of four recently qualified nurses. The results show that they are surprised by the many competence requirements and expectations, that they experience feeling alone, and that they also bear large responsibility. At the same time, they enjoy their work, in which they seek to influence the working conditions for their professional practice. They do experience the anxiety of not being able to cope with the challenge of nursing practice, but they are not marked by the shock of reality.

Background Recently graduated nurses are the future of the nursing profession and the municipal health care that will need nursing competency for an increasing number of frail elderly persons. This study is part of a larger project on newly graduated nurses where previous research indicated that building professional pride at their workplace could be important for remaining in the profession and in municipal health care. However, the recently graduated nurse's first job assignment in municipal health care can also be a critical period with cuts in their pride as nurses who may have an impact on nursing care for their patients. Aim The aim of this study is to illuminate recently graduated nurses' experiences with professional pride in municipal health and care services. Methods A phenomenological hermeneutic approach was chosen to illuminate meaning. A purposive sample of eight recently graduated nurses working in nursing homes or home health care was chosen for this study with narrative interviews and diaries. Findings Three themes were identified: doing the good thing and doing what is right; being recognized and confirmed; and finally thriving in a community of practice. An important source of pride is the relation to patients. Recently graduated nurses build their professional pride in an active and social process in a community of practice. The first cut in their professional pride seems to take place when they were not recognized and confirmed as professional persons. Conclusion Recently graduated nurses in municipal health care describe their professional pride as a complex phenomenon with relational, dynamic and collective dimensions. The cuts in their pride may hurt their identity and nursing care.

Newly educated nurses' meeting with working life probably constitutes the most demanding period of their entire working career. This study aims to shed light on what leaders and colleagues can do to ensure newly educated nurses' competency and retention. The design of this study uses a phenomenological approach with narrative interviews and text analysis. The results show that the newly educated nurse needs leaders and colleagues who take the right initiative with regard to receiving and incepting. They need help to clarify their professional role and to confirm their professional pride and commitment. Showing trust, providing competence time, and supporting the newly educated nurse's initiative to increase his/her competence are all of vital importance during this period. The new generation nurses actively seek knowledge and generally possess good computer skills. They can therefore represent a major resource for the working environment. In exchange the newly educated nurse needs leaders and colleagues to share their experience with them and help them to develop professional standards. Leaders who encourage this exchange of experience and who make use of these differences in competence can create a sustainable nursing staff, and this will in turn promote recruitment and nurse retention.