Exploring newly qualified nurses’ experiences of support and perceptions of peer support online: A qualitative study

Abstract

Aims and Objectives: To explore newly qualified nurses' support needs and their perceptions of online peer support. Background:The experience of being a newly qualified nurse is stressful and isolating. Support from colleagues and peers can enhance perceptions of competence and confidence in newly qualified nurses, improve well-being and aid retention. However, despite initiatives such as preceptorship, support needs may remain unmet in busy clinical environments. Online support has potential to offer a partial solution to professional isolation, but there is a lack of research into how technology can support nurses' emotional and social well-being.Design: A qualitative exploratory study was designed, employing semi-structured focus groups, analysed using thematic analysis. The study is reported in accordance with the COnsolidated criteria for REporting Qualitative research checklist.Methods: Eight focus groups, supplemented by one individual interview, were conducted with newly qualified nurses between June 2018-January 2019.Findings: Two main themes arose. The first was Drowning, a lot of the time with two subthemes: (i) Feelings and emotions about being a Newly Qualified Nurse: 'Absolutely terrified' and (ii) Support within the role: 'Somebody you can count on'. The second was Potential advantages and disadvantages of online modality: 'Somebody is going to get in that phone!' which included three sub-themes (i) Potential advantages, (ii) Potential disadvantages and (iii) Preferences and recommendations. Conclusions:This study demonstrates that if barriers can be overcome, then online support has potential to contribute to newly qualified nurses' well-being. Further research is needed to explore technical and ethical issues around online support and evaluate its effectiveness for newly qualified nurses. Relevance to clinical practice:Online support has the potential to add to existing strategies to support nurses during stressful times. This may be particularly relevant when many staff are working under increased pressure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | 2925 JENKINS Et al.

‘That just doesn’t feel right at times’ – lone working practices, support and educational needs of newly employed Healthcare Assistants providing 24/7 palliative care in the community: A qualitative interview study

“…Whilst participants were aware of such services, they did not align to their needs. Similarly to previous research, 63–65,67–72 sourcing peer support (i.e. support provided by healthcare assistants to other healthcare assistants) was reported as helping to cope with the emotional challenges of practice coupled with a positive impact on the care provided, while enhancing competence, confidence and building participants’ resilience.…”

“…support provided by healthcare assistants to other healthcare assistants) was reported as helping to cope with the emotional challenges of practice coupled with a positive impact on the care provided, while enhancing competence, confidence and building participants' resilience. [70][71][72] Further research on peer support among healthcare assistants is especially important in the context of risks associated with not accessing formal support and potential underreporting of risks 30-32 hiding true exposure of risks among this cohort. It is also important to understand, when support or guidance offered by peers may contribute to increased risks for the lone worker, patients, families and the organisations in the absence of relevant training.…”

‘All we've ever known is Covid’: A follow‐up study with newly qualified nurses who worked as student nurses during the pandemic

“…In contrast, this study's findings indicate that while mentally and emotionally challenged, the NQNs embraced the unique learning and developmental opportunities which arose. Pre‐pandemic research shows that as NQNs become more familiar with their role, their confidence grows and anxiety lessens (Jenkins et al, 2021). In keeping with findings of other research, participants had already been challenged by situations ‘beyond their level of readiness’ (RCN, 2021b, p. 12) which seemed to accelerate their transition, build confidence and ameliorate some of the known negative effects of transition.…”

“…Their foremost recommendation is to prioritise the well‐being of staff, proposing that those who worked through the pandemic be given ‘time, space and resources to recover’ and to address the drivers of poor staff experience and chronic excessive workloads. We now have an opportunity to harness some of the innovations that were successful during the pandemic, for example the positive potential for online preceptorship peer support (Jenkins et al, 2021). The switch to online teaching as well as the use of social media to provide both peer and professional support as part of preceptorship for NQNs was highly valued, supporting the need for the ongoing use of these approaches.…”

Experiences of nurses returning to work after the second/third childbirth and organizational support in Southeastern China: A qualitative exploration

“…[43] Current literature suggested that peer support has a direct alleviating effect on depression, [44] and can alleviate workplace anxiety and improve job satisfaction. [45] Thus, the head nurse of the department should encourage a welcoming department atmosphere, implement early humanistic care, talk to nurses more often, and meet nurses' personal needs under reasonable premises, such as offering free yoga classes and guidance on infant feeding to relieve the anxiety of returning nurses. Hospitals can also implement programs targeted towards the maintenance of nurses' mental health, such as on-site counsellors and buddy teams that check in on each other.…”