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Impact of Nursing Clinical Elective Courses on New Graduate Nurses' Clinical Practice: A Mixed-Methods Descriptive
Lisa S Lewis1, A Michelle Hartman, Christina Leonard
1Author Affiliations: Associate Professor (Drs Lewis and Reynolds) and Assistant Professor (Drs Leonard and Cadavero), Duke University School of Nursing, Durham, North Carolina; Assistant Professor and Assistant Dean (Dr Hartman), Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program, Duke University School of Nursing, Durham, North Carolina; and Clinical Nurse Specialist (Dr Reynolds), Infection Prevention Duke University Hospital, Durham, North Carolina.
Clinical nursing electives enhance new graduates' confidence and knowledge in specialty areas. These courses may help meet healthcare demands by preparing nurses for needed roles.
Area of Science:
- Nursing Education
- Clinical Practice
- Healthcare Workforce Development
Background:
- Prelicensure nursing students take clinical elective courses to gain specialty knowledge.
- The impact of these electives on post-graduation clinical practice remains largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore and describe the influence of clinical nursing electives on the practice of recent nursing graduates.
Main Methods:
- A mixed-methods descriptive study was employed.
- Electronic surveys and qualitative interviews were conducted with prelicensure nursing program graduates.
Main Results:
- 33 graduates completed surveys; 9 participated in interviews.
- 16 graduates worked in clinical areas related to their electives.
- Graduates reported increased confidence and a perceived advantage over peers due to elective coursework.
Conclusions:
- Clinical electives can prepare confident, knowledgeable new graduates in specialty nursing fields.
- Electives may be a strategy to address healthcare system needs for nurses in specific areas.
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