The novice general nurse's view of working in a paediatric setting: a Swedish experience

The aim of the study was to describe the experiences and perceptions about the role transition in newly graduated general nurses at a paediatric hospital in Sweden. The nurses were requested to write down their perceptions of: responsibility, management of daily and rapidly changing situations and reflection. Eighteen female, newly, generally educated nurses participated. The nurses had been employed for about one month, and were attending an orientation programme. Out of the written text a content analysis was performed and themes were identified. Under the three concepts that were asked for, the themes identified in responsibility were demands toward themselves, the patient and others but also moral issues. In management of daily and rapidly changing situations, the themes that were found concerned knowledge in and management of actions. In reflection, the themes identified were to understand, think, and to have time and the space to do so. The comments were of a general rather than specific nature like looking after the patient as human beings, use of evidencebased practice and the management of daily activities, routines and skills. Moral issues concerned attitudes and values like being the patient's advocate and protecting the patients' integrity. The need of time for reflection was highlighted as well as own responsibility for knowledge development. The comments were in line with previous results indicating that the role transition is independent of country, education or setting. A question of interest is how to best support newly graduated nurses to develop from learner to accountable practitioner.