A secondary data analysis examining the needs of graduate nurses in their transition to a new role

This paper describes the views of new graduate nurses on what factors they believe are important contributors for successful transition to registered nurse practice. Transition from student to new graduate nurse is challenging and stressful, with health care providers expecting graduates to “hit the ground running”. The reality is that most graduates experience role adjustment difficulties and require support from senior colleagues within health care organisations. Drawing on a larger Australian study that examined pre-registration paid employment and its impact on graduate nurse transition, findings in this paper suggest that successful transition is linked to post-registration or employer factors and less so to pre-registration paid employment factors. Utilising interpretive description of two qualitative data sets; three organising themes were identified: a matching skill set, the beginning foundation and a job well done. The global theme, valuing beginning practice describes newly qualified nurse's views on being valued by the nursing profession and how they were accepted into the work environment. Despite the stressors faced by the majority of new graduate nurses adjusting to the rigours of practice, graduate transition can be improved by supportive institutional practices and fostering collegial respect. Successful graduate nurse transition improves job satisfaction and is an effective strategy to address the ongoing pressures of recruitment and retention of new graduates.