Qualitatively exploring the attributes of adaptability and resilience amongst recently graduated nurses

To explore newly graduated nurse's understandings and practices of adaptability and resilience in clinical environments.

The everyday practice of nursing work involves managing emotional and practical everyday demands related to the role. Adaptability and resilience are two critical attributes that equip nurses for this by enabling them to manage challenges and be flexible with their practices and expectations in the face of rapidly changing and unpredictable circumstances.

Informed by the theoretical underpinnings of the Person-centred Practice Framework, semi-structured interviews using topic guides were conducted with nine newly graduated registered nurse participants recruited through purposive sampling. Interviews occurred between March-October 2020 with participants working across seven different healthcare settings in three Local Health Districts in NSW, Australia.

Analysis of the data generated the core themes of: 1) 'Making sense' explored how nurses defined resilience and adaptability; 2) 'Surviving as the nurse' focused on how nurses experienced adaptability and resilience as a newly qualified nurse; 3) 'Trusting oneself' reflected the interconnection of nurses' developed adaptability and resilience to their clinical self-assurance; and 4) 'Doing it again' described how adaptability and resilience can be further supported by the university sector. Findings demonstrated that adaptability and resilience in combination are essential attributes and required for effective nursing practice post-graduation. However, both collegial and organizational support were found to be lacking in positively reinforcing these attributes in this study.

Newly graduated nurses can develop adaptability in clinical practice, so they are a more resilient future workforce. However, greater organizational leadership is required to model and strengthen these attributes for nurses. When perceptions, knowledge and experiences of adaptability and resilience are developed using person-centred approaches, they will be used in person-centred ways.

Newly graduated nurses can develop adaptability in clinical practice, so they are a more resilient future workforce. However, greater organizational leadership is required to model and strengthen these attributes for nurses. When perceptions, knowledge and experiences of adaptability and resilience are developed using person-centred approaches, they will be used in person-centred ways.