Readiness for Practice Among Nursing College Graduates: A Cross-Sectional Correlation Study

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Health Professions Education
• Clinical Readiness

Background:

• Nursing college education is vital for developing professional competence and ensuring new nurses' successful role transition.
• Practice readiness is a critical outcome of nursing education, directly impacting the quality of patient care.
• Assessing and enhancing practice readiness are essential for addressing the challenges faced by newly qualified nurses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the practice readiness of recent nursing graduates in South Korea.
• To identify key factors influencing the practice readiness of these graduates.
• To provide evidence-based recommendations for improving nursing education and graduate preparedness.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with 178 newly licensed nurses in South Korea.
• Participants were recruited from 10 nursing colleges and met specific inclusion criteria, excluding those with prior clinical experience or psychiatric history.
• Validated instruments, including the Tromsø Social Intelligence Scale and the Readiness for Practice Survey, were used to collect data.

Main Results:

• The overall mean practice readiness score was 2.81 ± 0.37, with professional identity scoring highest and trials and tribulations scoring lowest.
• Social intelligence (r=0.61) and the clinical education environment (r=0.53) showed significant positive correlations with practice readiness.
• Key predictors of practice readiness included satisfaction with simulation practice (β=0.20), overall university education (β=0.15), social intelligence (β=0.49), and clinical education environment (β=0.28).

Conclusions:

• Improving social intelligence and satisfaction with simulation and overall educational experiences are crucial for enhancing nursing graduates' practice readiness.
• Investing in high-quality clinical environments and simulation programs can facilitate a smoother transition into professional nursing roles.
• Curriculum and policy reforms are recommended to support individual development and systemic improvements in nursing education to better prepare graduates for practice.