The interactionism among nursing educators, preceptors and newly graduate nurses related to role transition: An exploratory study

Background and objective: The role transition remains a barrier in the ability of nurses to adjust from the role of student to professional nurse where the interactive mentoring attributes portrayed by nurse educators and clinical preceptors that may influence the role transition of new graduate nurses has not been thoroughly assessed. This study was conducted to explore the interactive mentoring attributes of nursing educators and clinical preceptors that influence new graduate nurses’ ability to successfully adjust from the role of student to that of professional nurse.Methods: Convergent parallel mixed method of research was used in this study, where both quantitative and qualitative data were simultaneously collected, analyzed, merged, compared and interpreted. The quantitative data came from purposively sampled first batch graduates of Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Oman College of Health Sciences A.Y. 2017-2018 (N = 33;n = 27) through survey using researcher-made survey questionnaire in 5-point-Likert scale format based on the five attributes of beginning theory of Faculty Attributes for Confidence, Equilibrium, and Success (FACES) by Sparacino L. (2016). The qualitative exploration focused on the most significant influential interactive mentoring attributes of nursing educators and preceptors solicited through interview. Quantitative data were statistically treated and interpreted using percentage, weighted mean, t test and Pearson’s correlation. Qualitative data representing each participant’s point of view were analyzed using open coding, transcribed, analyzed, compared, and categorized.Results: Quantitative findings revealed that the respondents strongly agreed on the influential effect of interactive mentoring attributes portrayed by their preceptors in terms of professionalism while they agreed with their nursing educators (composite mean: 4.1; 3.9) respectively. Respondents also agreed with the influential effect of knowledge and experiences as well as in terms of care and rigor attributes. However, the t test values and correlation analysis showed no significant relationship (p > .05) between the profile of the respondents in terms of GPA and department with the interactive mentoring attributes portrayed by nursing educators and preceptors during role transition. Qualitatively, caring, rigor and professionalism were the significant interactive mentoring attributes of nursing educators and preceptors most influenced newly graduate nurses on their ability to successfully adjust from the role of student to that of professional nurse.Conclusion and recommendation: The interactive mentoring attributes portrayed by nursing educators and preceptors have a positive influential effects in transition process, although the respondents’ profile were not significantly related nor the relationship between the role portrayed by nursing educators and preceptors to role transition. Therefore, it is recommended to use these findings in curriculum revision and in the modification of clinical orientation or training policy.

The use of block and integrated practicum structures within employer-sponsored pre-registration nursing programmes: A Critical Realist study

This study, underpinned by Critical Realism, explores the use of block and integrated placement frameworks within employer-sponsored pre-registration nursing programmes at a United Kingdom university. Digitally recorded, commercially transcribed semi-structured interviews involving four stakeholder groups (employers, students, mentors, and practice tutors), were exposed to qualitative content analysis, and yielded four common themes; connectedness, role transition, carer work and difference. Most respondents perceived the block model as being more effective in promoting connectedness, facilitating role transition, and mitigating against perceived difference; although use of the integrated model was considered more desirable for services having to release these students from carer work. Results also highlight various factors which may influence the most appropriate choice of practicum model, including individual student characteristics, the service in which learners undertake their non-registrant care work, the nature of the placement and mentor autonomy within their clinical role. Congruent with the principles of Critical Realism, efforts to establish potential underlying causative mechanisms associated with practicum experiences are underway and currently involves scrutiny of these results against key features of the Theory of Human Relatedness. Furthermore, a regression analysis to identify the statistical relationship between the placement model completed by two national cohorts and retention rates/degree classifications is in progress. This combined work contributes to the extremely limited body of knowledge in an important area of curriculum design within nurse education.

Assessing Perception of Role Transition among Nurse Interns

Context: Nursing roles today constitute a vast and complex system. Nurse interns need to know their future roles to facilitate and prepare them socially to work professionally and decrease the reality shock when going outside to the labor market. Aim: This study aimed to assess the perception of role transition among nurse interns. Methods: The study was conducted in four hospitals affiliated to Ain Shams University where nurse interns have their training, namely Ain-Shams University Hospital (5 units), El-Demerdash Hospital (2 units), Pediatrics Hospital (3 units), and Cardiovascular surgery hospital. A convenient sample of all available nurse interns who started their internship in 2018 and their total number were100. Data collections included a role perception questionnaire to assess the perception of role and role transition knowledge questionnaire to assess role transition knowledge among nurse interns. Results: The present study revealed that most of the interns had low total roles perception, among 51% of the studied interns, and low total knowledge level regarding role transition among 70% of the studied interns. Conclusion: The study concludes a low total level of role perception among more than half of the studied nurse interns and a low total knowledge level of role transition among nearly three quarters. A statistically significant relationship was revealed between nurse interns' total transition knowledge score and their age, gender, and training program attendance. The study recommended conducting a training program and continuing education for the nurse interns to promote their perceptions about their role and role transition. Further studies for studying the relationship between role transition process and stress among nurse students and assessing the clinical learning needs of nurse interns periodically are recommended. Besides, develop a training program for them to the challenges facing in clinical practice.

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.