Newly Qualified Professional Nurses’ Readiness for the Independent Practice Role

Background: Newly qualified professional nurses find the transition to their new role difficult and need support to connect theory to practice. The readiness to their new role is identified with stress, fear, lack of confidence, anxiety and lack in clinical ability. It was clear that newly qualified professional nurses need further academic and clinical support from the clinical institutions they are employed at. The challenges of their new role transition are assigned to various factors, amongst others, needing more preparation, finding it difficult to bridge the theory–practice gap and having no guidance or support.Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the professional transition experiences of newly qualified professional nurses to their new role.Setting: The research setting in this study was two hospitals in the Cape Winelands region of the Western Cape, South Africa.Methods: This study employed a descriptive phenomenological research design. The researcher collected data through interviews. The data were analysed by employing a thematic analysis method.Results: Three themes were discovered from the findings of this study, with subthemes supporting them. Inadequate support was found to be a cause for not being prepared. Consequently, newly qualified professional nurses blame peers for lack of support.ConclusionThe participants of this study all described that newly qualified professional nurses’ transition to nursing was challenging. The participants agreed that the transition to the professional role is a concern that needs to be addressed. This study found a need for professional support and guidance of newly qualified professional nurses within the clinical environment.