New nurse workplace adaptation: a Walker and Avant concept analysis

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Management
• Organizational Behavior

Background:

• High turnover among new nurses poses a significant threat to global healthcare workforce stability.
• Existing theories inadequately explain the successful adaptation process of newly graduated nurses.
• Workplace adaptation is crucial for retention but remains ambiguously defined, often confused with organizational socialization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically clarify the concept of new nurse workplace adaptation.
• To differentiate individual-driven adaptation from top-down organizational socialization.

Main Methods:

• Concept analysis utilizing Walker and Avant's eight-step method.
• Comprehensive literature search across multiple databases (PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, Embase, etc.) up to June 1, 2025.

Main Results:

• Key attributes identified: continuous dynamic adjustment, achieving internal-external equilibrium, and team integration.
• Antecedents include sociodemographic factors, individual adaptation capital, and organizational socialization.
• Consequences involve career development, improved nursing quality, and team structure stabilization.

Conclusions:

• New nurse workplace adaptation is an integrated, individual process, distinct from organizational socialization.
• Identified "sacrificial adaptation" highlights risks of prioritizing compliance over well-being.
• A paradigm shift towards supportive environments fostering genuine adaptation is necessary for nurse retention.