Perceptions of Professional Practice and Work Environment of New Graduates in a Nurse Residency Program

Abstract

New nurses continue to face challenging work environments and high expectations for professional competence as they enter practice. Nurse residency programs are gaining prominence as a mechanism to ease new graduates’ transition to practice. This study examined new graduates’ perceptions of their professional practice competence and work environment throughout a yearlong nurse residency program. Employing a repeated measures design, data were collected at baseline, at 6 months, and at 12 months. Results showed that job satisfaction was significantly lowest at 6 months and highest at 12 months. Job stress was found to be lowest at 12 months and organizational commitment was highest at baseline. Of the variables related to professional practice, clinical decision-making was highest at 12 months and quality of nursing performance significantly increased at each measurement point. These data add to the growing evidence supporting the efficacy of nurse residency programs.

Clinical decision-making among new graduate nurses attending residency programs in Saudi Arabia

“…These findings are consistent with existing nursing research. Nursing residency programs have contributed significantly to new graduate nurses' development and improvement in their competencies, specifically clinical decision making (AL-Dossary et al, 2014;Bratt, 2009Bratt, , 2013Bratt & Felzer, 2011Casey et al, 2004;Goode et al, 2009;Kowalski & Cross, 2010;Messmer, Jones, & Taylor, 2004;Roud et al, 2005;Williams, Goode, Krsek, Bednash, & Lynn, 2007). In this study the new graduate nurses' perceptions of clinical decision-making had improved by the end of their residency program, which provides critical evidence that residency programs can enhance new graduates' CDM abilities (Bratt & Felzer, 2011).…”

“…Age, overall GPA, and enrollment in a residency program were the primary variables in this study since in the nursing literature it was found that they predict clinical decisionmaking skills (AL-Dossary et al, 2014: Bratt, 2013Bratt & Felzer, 2011Higuchi & Donald, 2002;Oermann & Garvin, 2002;Siew Eng et al, 2011;Torunn Bjørk & Hamilton, 2011). Although marital status has been found to shown…”

“…6 the transition for the new graduate nurse to a professional nursing role, but most importantly significantly improved their decision making skills (Bratt, 2009;Bratt and Felzer, 2011).…”

The quality of work life of registered nurses in Canada and the United States: a comprehensive literature review

“…17,18 These results are supported in a longitudinal study where newly licensed nurses reported greatest levels of job satisfaction, retention and work ability, and lowest levels of stress at one year after employment. 19 Interestingly, both nurses and certified nursing assistants presented a drop of job satisfaction at six months after their employment start date. 19,20 These two longitudinal studies, however, present response bias with the use of the same survey at each test point, and 66% attrition before the 1 year test point.…”

“…19 Interestingly, both nurses and certified nursing assistants presented a drop of job satisfaction at six months after their employment start date. 19,20 These two longitudinal studies, however, present response bias with the use of the same survey at each test point, and 66% attrition before the 1 year test point. 19,20 Job satisfaction, retention, and work ability scores were also reported greater after a continuing education seminar for a small sample (n = 47) of certified nursing assistants.…”