Influences on transition to practice outcomes among new nurses

Abstract

This research explored the investigation of influences on transition to practice outcomes among new graduate nurses in a nurse residency program. The study participants consisted of 641 nurse residents from the Versant RN RegistryTM from 2010-2011. They represented 84 facilities in 14 states across the United States. A descriptive correlational design was utilized to gain insight on the impact mentoring and debriefing had on gains in competence and confidence, the degree of comfort in assuming a staff nurse role at the end of the residency, and job satisfaction. A secondary data analysis was conducted using the Versant RN Nurse ResidencyTM database. Frequencies and percentages, chi-square analysis, and independent t-tests were applied to the data set. The study results showed mentoring and debriefing as positive influences on gains in competence and confidence, comfort in assuming a staff nurse role at the end of the nurse residency, and job satisfaction. The results were moderated by nursing educational preparation and previous healthcare experience. Bachelor-prepared new graduate nurses and nurses with previous healthcare experience related a higher degree of comfort in assuming a staff nurse role at the end of the nurse residency. Future research should include expanded analysis of the new outcome variable of degree of comfort in assuming a staff nurse role at the end of nurse residency programs. Continued evaluation of the effectiveness of mentoring circles would also contribute to the nursing literature with regard to economic feasibility. Key words: transition-to-practice, new graduate nurse, mentoring, debriefing, nurse residency.