Predictors of new graduate nurses' satisfaction with their transitional support programme

To examine the influence of new graduate nurses' (NGNs) personal and situational factors on their satisfaction with the practice environment.

Transitional support programmes are widely used to provide professional support for NGNs' transitioning-to-practice. However, little is known about whether personal characteristics and situational factors influence NGNs' satisfaction with the practice environment.

This was a cross-sectional survey. NGNs were surveyed approximately 8 weeks after commencement of the support programme. In addition to socio-demographic and situational data, two validated, standardised instruments were administered: the Manchester Clinical Supervision Scale (MCSS-26) and the Practice Environment Scale Australia (PES-AUS).

A total of 109 NGNs completed the survey. Three independent and significant predictors of NGNs' satisfaction were: (1) unit satisfaction (standardised beta, β = 0.41); (2) satisfaction with the clinical supervision (β = 0.31); and (3) assigned unit: critical-care areas (β = -0.17), explaining 32.5% of the variance. Conclusion This study demonstrates the importance of clinical supervision and unit level support on satisfaction, and the need for additional support for NGNs assigned to critical-care areas.

The findings of this study suggest there are modifiable situational factors that influence NGNs' satisfaction with the practice environment, and allocating NGNs to critical-care areas on their first rotation should be avoided.