Umbrella review: Newly graduated nurses' experiences of providing direct care in hospital settings

Abstract

Aim: To summarize existing research syntheses reporting newly graduated registered nurses' experiences of providing direct care in hospital settings. Design: Umbrella review. Data Sources: An extensive search of all relevant databases was conducted for research syntheses. Initial key terms included “new* nurse”, “nursing care” and “hospital setting” in combination with index terms to find relevant literature. Methods: Critical appraisal, data extraction and summary were performed independently by two reviewers according to the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines for undertaking umbrella reviews. Results: Nine research syntheses published between 2010 and 2019 and representing 173 studies were included following critical appraisal. The evidence was summarized in narrative form with supporting tables. Twenty-six sub-branches and seven main-branches were organized in a coding tree showing the structure of three overlapping themes: “Feeling a lack of competency”, “Sense of emotional distress” and “In need of support”. Conclusions: Evidence demonstrates that newly graduated registered nurses' experiences of a lack of competency, emotional distress and need for support emerged as essential requirements for the provision of competent and safe direct care for the patient. Impact: Newly graduated registered nurses face multiple challenges in the transition from student nurse to practicing nurse. Unmet expectations of being a newly graduated nurse might lead to low levels of job satisfaction, high attrition rates or missed nursing care. Nurse educators, leaders and policy makers should be mindful that newly graduated registered nurses' perceptions of professional and personal identity and degree of support influences newly graduated registered nurses' direct care provision.