Supporting Transition and Practice Readiness Through Nursing Clinical Externships: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Workforce Development
• Evidence Synthesis

Background:

• New graduate nurses experience significant transition challenges and high turnover rates, impacting workforce stability and patient care.
• The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified these issues, highlighting the need for effective support systems.
• Clinical nurse externship (CNE) programs offer structured experiential learning to bridge the academic-practice gap via mentorship and clinical immersion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the impact of clinical nurse externship programs on undergraduate nursing students.
• To identify key outcomes and themes associated with CNE program participation.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute Manual and PRISMA-ScP guidelines.
• Literature search across major databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, MEDLINE, EBSCO).
• Thematic analysis of data from 24 included studies involving undergraduate nursing students in CNE programs.

Main Results:

• Five key themes emerged: clinical competence, emotional impact, relationships and support, nursing values, and professional preparedness.
• CNE participation was consistently linked to enhanced clinical competence, confidence, and professional identity.
• Externships effectively reduced participant anxiety and transition stress.

Conclusions:

• Clinical nurse externship programs are a valuable strategy for strengthening nursing workforce readiness and retention.
• These programs facilitate a smoother transition from education to professional practice.
• CNE programs are crucial for global nursing education and strategic workforce planning.