Exploring the reasons for novice nurse educators’ transition from practice to academia in Ghana

Background There is an increasing transition rate of experienced clinical nurses from practice to academia. When nurses transition from practice to academia for the right reasons, it culminates in job satisfaction and retention. Thus, understanding what attracts clinical nurses to academia is an important consideration for employing and retaining competent nurse educators. Yet, there are gaps in research about what motivates nurses to transition from practice to academia within the Ghanaian context. This study aimed to explore the reasons for novice nurse educators’ transition from practice to academia in three Health Training Institutions in the Upper East Region of Ghana. Methods This qualitative descriptive phenomenology study used a purposive sampling method to select 12 novice nurse educators. Data were collected using a semi-structured interview guide through individual face-to-face in-depth interviews. Written informed consent was obtained and interviews were audio-taped and transcribed verbatim. Data analysis was done manually guided by Colaizzi’s method of data analysis. Results Novice nurse educators transitioned from practice to academia because they were dissatisfied with their clinical nursing practice, they wanted more flexible work, they wanted to work autonomously, and they previously taught their clients in the clinical setting. Four themes emerged namely: (1) dissatisfied with clinical nursing, (2) quest for flexible work role, (3) quest for work autonomy, and (4) previous clinical teaching. Conclusion The reasons for transitioning from practice to academia were mostly born out of novice nurse educators’ previous negative experiences in the clinical setting which ought to be considered in the recruitment and retention of teaching staff to train the future nurses. There is the need to revise and implement a tutor recruitment policy that takes into account, what attracts clinical nurses to the academic setting.

A Profile of Novice and Senior Nurses’ Communication Patterns during the Transition to Practice Period: An Application of the Roter Interaction Analysis System

Novice nurses’ successful transition to practice is impacted by their interactions with senior nurses. Ensuring that novice nurses are adequately supported during their transition to practice has wide-ranging and significant implications. The aim of this study is to explore the communication patterns between novice and senior nurses by applying an interaction analysis technique. Trimonthly onboarding evaluations between novice and senior nurses were recorded. The Roter Interaction Analysis System was adapted and deployed to identify communication patterns. In total, twenty-two interactions were analyzed. Senior nurses spoke more (64.5%). Task-focused exchange was predominant amongst senior (79.7%) and novice (59.5%) nurses. Senior nurses’ talk was concentrated in clusters of information-giving (45%) and advice or instructions (17.2%), while emotional expression (1.4%) and social talk (0.4%) were rare. Novice nurses’ talk was concentrated in clusters-information giving (57%) and positive talk (39.5%). The communication patterns between senior and novice nurses during the onboarding period indicate aspects of novice nurse transition that could be addressed, such as encouraging novice nurses to use these interactions to communicate more, or emphasizing the importance of social talk. These insights can be used to inform mentorship and preceptorship training to ensure that senior nurses are able to adequately support novice nurses through all parts of the transition to practice period.

Transitional Experiences from Clinical Nurse Experts to Novice Nurse Lecturers in the University for Local Development in Thailand: A Phenomenological Study

Background: Nurse lecturers play a vital role in producing professional and competent nurses through teaching and practicing in universities. It is challenging for clinical nurse experts to adapt to being nurse lecturers in the university for local development. Exploring this transitional experience is essential to learn how nurses adapt themselves to their new roles.Purpose: This study aimed to describe the transitional experiences from clinical nurse experts to novice nurse lecturers in the context of the university for local development.Methods: The Heideggerian hermeneutic phenomenology was used as a research methodology. The purposive sampling was utilized to select eight novice nurse lecturers as participants. Data were ethically collected using in-depth interviews, observations, field records, and voice recordings. The collected data were then transcribed verbatim, and a thematic analysis based on van Manen’s method was applied for data analysis.Results: The findings showed five major themes and four sub-themes, including: (1) Reasons for becoming a nurse lecturer in the university for local development, consisting of having a successful career and desiring to serve the community in their hometown; (2) Learning to work by relying on themselves; (3) Learning and teaching through an offered service for local development; (4) Seeking support, consisting of focusing on students as moral support and asking for recommendations from colleagues; and (5) Confidently moving forward.Conclusion: Understanding transitional experience from clinical nurse experts to novice nurse lecturers in the university for local development is very challenging, especially in managing difficulties in the role transition. It is expected that nursing schools provide an effective orientation and mentorship programs to help nurse lecturers promote their role transition efficiently.

Common Pitfalls in Conducting Quantitative Nursing Research: A Commentary and Suggestions to Facilitate Publication of Studies

Background: This article is a commentary on some of the common pitfalls that many researchers (including nurse researchers) experience when developing and implementing studies which impede their ability to publish their work. Purpose: The goal is to provide a summary and recommendations to assist novice nurse researchers with respect to some aspects of methodology and statistical analyses that are often overlooked and limit the validity of studies’ findings and the reliability of the results. Discussion: Specific research design attributes, data management and analyses procedures are identified that can be used to improve a study’s integrity and appeal to academic journals for publication. Conclusion: This article attempts to assist nurse researchers of all levels and in a variety of capacities to improve the quality of research and the ability to publish their studies. Keywords: Quantitative, Research, Methodology, Publication