Bridging the Theory-Practice Gap: Employers' Recommendations for Nursing Programs

The aim was to describe employers' perceptions of what nursing programs do well to prepare students for competent practice as new graduate nurses (NGNs) and areas for improvement.

There is a gap in knowledge regarding educators' and employers' expectations and evaluation of competence in NGNs.

A qualitative descriptive study of nurse orientation leaders and nurse preceptors was conducted.

Major themes were as follows: We Expect Them to Know the Basics, Nursing Schools Do a Pretty Good Job, and Teach Them to Understand the Nurse's Role. Four subthemes included the following: Expose Students to the Reality of Nursing, Focus on Communication Skills, Teach Students to See the Big Picture, and Strategies for Practice Readiness.

Nurse educators can help students to integrate knowledge and experience in ways that mimic the actual practice of nursing, thus producing graduates who are better prepared to enter today's complex health care arena.