The status and associated factors of junior nurses' transition shock: A cross-sectional study

To analyse junior nurses^' transition shock status and its associated factors.

When nurses experience transition shock, turnover intentions followed by turnover behaviour are likely, which is unfavourable for the stable development of nursing teams.

Using convenience sampling, 1,148 Chinese junior nurses were recruited. Those recruited completed a demographic questionnaire and the head nurses' humanistic care behaviour for nurses, feedback-seeking behaviour and transition shock of nurses scales. Data and associated factors of transition shock were analysed using SPSS and univariate and multivariate analyses, respectively.

Head nurses' humanistic care behaviour and nurses^' feedback-seeking behaviour were significantly and negatively correlated with junior nurses' transition shock (mean score: 2.87 ± 0.85). Income satisfaction, head nurses' humanistic care behaviour, night shift frequency and educational background entered the regression equation.

Transition shock exists not only in new nurses but also in junior nurses with ≤5-year service. Those dissatisfied with their income have frequent night shifts, and higher education backgrounds have higher levels of transition shock.

Head nurses need to reduce transition shock of nurses with ≤5-year service by integrating humanistic care into nursing management and creating a friendly environment to stimulate feedback-seeking behaviour.