Student to nurse transition and the nurse residency program: A qualitative study of new graduate perceptions

Abstract

Background: In past years, the attrition of new graduate nurses has been predicted to grow and this is what has been occurring recently due to challenging role transitions. Nurse residency programs are meant to help new graduate nurses transition into their new roles. These programs have been evaluated in a variety of ways. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore more about new graduate nurses' transition perspectives and the function of nurse residency programs in mediating this shift. Methods: At a major university hospital in Saudi Arabia, 29 Saudi nurses participated in a qualitative phenomenological study through focus group discussions. Results: Two major themes emerged from thematic analysis in this study. The first theme was namely “Challenges of transition”, where nurses expressed the lack of experience, high caseloads, and difficulty communicating with physicians. The second theme was namely, “Residency transition support”, where the nurses expressed that it provided them with enhanced learning, peer communication and support, and helped them in building relationships. Conclusion: The themes that emerged indicate that the journey from student to registered nurse is complicated and multidimensional. These findings imply that structures and practices meant to promote the shift, such as the residency program, can help new nurses have a better transition experience.