Using group preceptorship to support novice nurses

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Healthcare Management
• Clinical Practice

Background:

• Newly qualified nurses require structured support during their transition from novice to expert practitioners.
• Recruitment and retention of nursing staff in acute inpatient settings present ongoing challenges.
• Standardizing and improving the quality of patient care is a continuous goal in healthcare.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the experience of ward leaders in creating and implementing a group program for newly qualified nurses.
• To evaluate the program's effectiveness in supporting nurses' professional development.
• To assess the program's impact on staff recruitment, retention, and patient care.

Main Methods:

• Ward leaders designed and facilitated a supplementary group program for newly qualified nurses.
• The program focused on aiding the transition from novice to expert practice.
• Qualitative experiences of ward leaders and newly qualified nurses were central to the program's development.

Main Results:

• The group program successfully supported newly qualified nurses in becoming competent and confident practitioners.
• The initiative contributed positively to staff recruitment and retention within acute inpatient areas.
• An improvement in the standard and consistency of care provided was observed.

Conclusions:

• Group programs are effective in supplementing preceptorship for newly qualified nurses.
• Such initiatives play a crucial role in fostering a healthy and supportive ward culture.
• Investing in structured support for early-career nurses enhances both staff well-being and patient outcomes.