Motivations for the transitional experience of students in the nursing specialization degree

Abstract

Background: The transitional experience of nurse residents occurs through intentional changes motivated by the possibility of enhancing their practice. Objective: To analyze the motivations for the transitional experience of former students of the nurse residency program in a municipality in Northeast Brazil. Methodology: Cross-sectional exploratory study carried out with 40 former students of the nurse residency program. The semi-structured interview technique with a guide was used for data collection. Data were analyzed through content analysis. Results: The category Motivations for the transitional experience emerged, which discusses the motivators influencing the transitional experience. Three subcategories also emerged: Need to enhance knowledge and experience clinical practice; Undergraduate training is insufficient; and Previous experience in practical settings. Conclusion: The completion of the nurse residency program is a transitional experience motivated by the possibilities of improving nurses’ practice.