The Road to Providing Quality Care: Orientation and Mentorship for New Graduate Nurses

Abstract

Clinical work demands can overwhelm new graduate nurses (NGNs) and cause significant stress as they begin practice in their first place of employment. The authors examine the impact of a government-supported extended orientation and mentorship program intended to facilitate the transition of NGNs to professional practice. A longitudinal trend study was conducted over 3 years of the program (2008, 2009, and 2010). In each year, 1 third of surveyed NGNs and over 3 quarters of surveyed employers responded. The researchers conducted 21 focus groups with 106 health-care organizations, 53 interviews with NGNs, and 15 interviews with nurse mentors from the frontline staff. The findings indicate that the program is instrumental in developing NGNs' ability to practise independently. Mentorship increased the NGNs' confidence and allowed them to make clinical decisions in a safe, protected environment. The program provided vital support and helped NGNs move from students to practising nurses.

Policy to practice: Investment in transitioning new graduate nurses to the workplace

“…The readiness of new graduate nurses to enter the job market is an international concern (Edwards, Hawker, Carrier, & Rees, ; Goode, Lynn, Krsek, & Bednash, ; Hunsberger, Baumann, & Crea‐Arsenio, ). Employers and nurse mentors agree that new nurses lack confidence and often feel overwhelmed (Chesak et al., ; Lindfors & Junttila, ; Pfaff, Baxter, Jack, & Ploeg, ).…”

“…Evaluation of the NGG has been ongoing since 2007 (see Baumann, Hunsberger, & Crea‐Arsenio, , ; Baumann, Hunsberger, Crea‐Arsenio, & Idriss‐Wheeler, ; Hunsberger et al., ). The current study focused on nurses who entered the health care workforce between 2007 and 2012.…”

“…Transition programmes generally have a clinical component that includes a period of job shadowing and mentoring during which new nurses observe the roles and functions of experienced nurses (Hunsberger et al., ). Rush et al.…”

“…During extended orientation, graduates are assigned to an experienced staff nurse (mentor) who provides daily supervision and guidance in all aspects of direct patient care. The graduates participate in the care of patients assigned to their mentors and do not receive separate patient assignments (Hunsberger et al., ).…”

Perceived needs and coping resources of newly hired nurses

“…Literature consistently describes that the preferred method for orienting the nurse in transition is 1:1 consistent pairing of preceptor with newly hired nurses, regardless of level of experience or years of practice. 4,12,18,22 Findings from this analysis suggest that the nurse in transition prefers a small and consistent group of preceptors. 15,16…”