Optimizing Academic-Practice Partnerships to Promote Transition to Nursing Practice

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Healthcare Workforce Development
• Qualitative Research

Background:

• Addressing the nursing shortage, especially in rural areas, requires innovative retention strategies.
• Academic-practice partnerships can enhance nurse job satisfaction and working conditions.
• A partnership in Northwestern Ontario aimed to improve the transition to practice for nurses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the experiences of new graduate nurses during their transition to practice.
• To identify factors influencing new graduate nurse integration and job satisfaction.
• To assess the role of academic-practice partnerships in supporting nurse retention.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative methodology utilizing semi-structured virtual interviews.
• Nine Registered Nurse participants with 3-7 months of experience were interviewed.
• Thematic analysis was employed to identify key themes from interview data.

Main Results:

• New graduate nurses reported a significant gap between their expectations and the reality of their roles.
• Key themes included feelings of unpreparedness, the need to "catch up," and a desire for collaborative learning.
• Interactions with preceptors and colleagues heavily influenced their transition experience.

Conclusions:

• A dissonance exists between new graduate nurses' expectations and their lived experiences.
• Academic-practice partnerships can cultivate supportive environments crucial for new nurse development.
• These partnerships positively influence professional identity and are vital for nurse retention.