Associations Between Participation in ProDeveloP and Newly Graduated Nurses' Stress and Professional Development When...

Area of Science:

• Nursing Professional Development
• Healthcare Transition Support
• Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing

Background:

• Newly graduated nurses (NGNs) face significant challenges and stress during their transition to practice.
• High stress levels in NGNs can lead to early career turnover.
• Structured transition support is crucial for NGNs' professional development and well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a professional development programme (ProDeveloP) with a reflective component on NGNs' perceived stress.
• To assess the association between ProDeveloP participation and NGNs' professional development, including role clarity, task mastery, and social acceptance.

Main Methods:

• A quantitative, non-randomised intervention study involving 66 NGNs in mid-Sweden.
• An intervention group (n=39) participated in ProDeveloP, featuring structured reflection via facilitated dialogue groups.
• A control group (n=27) did not participate in the intervention; data collected via surveys and statistically analyzed.

Main Results:

• The ProDeveloP intervention group reported significantly lower perceived stress compared to the control group (p < .001) with a large effect size.
• Statistical analysis, including linear regression, confirmed the significant reduction in perceived stress after adjusting for covariates.
• No significant differences were found between groups regarding role clarity, task mastery, or social acceptance.

Conclusions:

• A reflective approach in transition support programmes, such as ProDeveloP, can effectively reduce perceived stress in NGNs.
• Such programmes are crucial for facilitating a positive transition experience for newly graduated nurses.
• Implementing structured, reflective transition support may improve NGN retention and overall job satisfaction.