Competence Gaps Among Unemployed New Nursing Graduates Entering a Community-Based Transition-to-Practice Program

Abstract

Multiple reports document competence gaps among employed new RN graduates. Less is known about the competence and confidence of new RN graduates who have not yet found employment in nursing. As part of an academic/practice partnership model, 4 collaboratives provided transition-to-practice programs for newly graduated and licensed, but unemployed, RNs. The authors describe the new nurses' characteristics on program entry and discuss implications for nursing education and practice.

Competency and an active learning program in undergraduate nursing education

“…The scores of subdomains such as special and general clinical competency, critical thinking and human understanding were also significantly higher in ALG than those in TLG. These results are consistent with the findings of previous studies (Hoke & Robbins 2005, Berman et al 2014, Duane & Satre 2014, Masters 2014, Mills et al 2014, Pines et al 2014) that reported a positive effect of new and alternative educational methodologies. Their studies showed high levels of accountability associated with active learning.…”

“…These results are consistent with the findings of previous studies (Hoke & Robbins , Berman et al . , Duane & Satre , Masters , Mills et al . , Pines et al .…”

“…Competency, particularly clinical competency of new graduates, has been identified as an area with statistically significant deficiency in nursing education (Beischel & Davis 2014). Assessing nursing competency of new graduates, Berman et al (2014) found that few of them demonstrated an appropriate level of understanding and implementation of the nursing process, particularly in foundational psychomotor skills. Only 10% of nurse executives perceived new graduate nurses as fully prepared to give safe and effective nursing care and only 25% of them were satisfied with new graduates' clinical skills (Berkow et al 2009).…”

Academic–Practice Partnerships for Unemployed New Graduates in California

“…A shared vision facilitates academic-practice partnerships, as do mutual goals and objectives (AACN-AONE Task Force on Academic-Practice Partnerships, 2010a; Beal et al, 2012). It is important to note that, although the goals and objectives of the transition programs were mutual, the means by which programs achieved them were tailored to individual settings.…”

New License, No Job: Nurse Leaders' Experience With Transition-to-Practice Programs for Unemployed New RN Graduates

“…More details about the structure and outcomes of the transition programs are available. 13,14 We talked to 10 nurse leaders-deans and program directors from schools of nursing, and chief nursing officers (CNOs) and managers from inpatient and ambulatory care clinical practice sites-to get their perspective on the programs.…”