Temporal Exploration of New Nurses' Field Adaptation Using Text Network Analysis

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Healthcare Adaptation
• Professional Development

Background:

• New nurses require structured support during their critical first year of hospital employment.
• Adaptability is crucial for successful integration into the hospital work environment.
• Existing onboarding programs may not adequately address the evolving needs of novice nurses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the experiences of new nurses during their initial year of hospital employment.
• To gather data for developing an evidence-based new nurse residency program.
• To focus the program on enhancing nurses' adaptability.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative study involving 80 new nurses at a Korean tertiary hospital.
• Collection of data through critical reflective journals over one year (March-August 2021).
• Text network analysis using NetMiner 4.5.0 to identify core themes and keywords across three distinct periods.

Main Results:

• Early themes (1-3 months) included 'study' and 'patient understanding,' with sub-themes like 'rounds' and 'medical device.'
• Mid-period themes (4-6 months) focused on 'insufficient' resources and 'stress,' with sub-themes of 'admission' and 'oxygen therapy.'
• Later themes (7-12 months) highlighted 'handover' and 'preparation,' with sub-themes of 'burden' and 'independence.'

Conclusions:

• The study identifies distinct challenges new nurses face at different adaptation stages.
• Findings offer insights into effective nurse leadership and educational strategies.
• Results support the development of targeted interventions to improve new nurse transition and retention.