Transition from a Graduate Nurse to Professional Practice

Running Head: GRADUATE NURSE TO PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE 1
Transition from a graduate nurse to professional practice
Student’s name
Institutional Affiliation

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GRADUATE NURSE TO PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
Introduction
The healthcare environment is an ever changing field due to the dynamic nature of the
society (Parker, Giles, Lantry & McMillan, 2014). However, one thing that seems to remain
constant is the need for ‘work ready’ nurses (Hofler & Thomas, 2016).At the beginning of
Bachelor of nursing course, students are filled with excitement and also anticipation for the
course. The course equips them with practical skills and theoretical knowledge in preparation
for professional practice. The transition to professional practice can be a ‘stressful and
difficult shift’ for a graduate nurse(Hofler & Thomas, 2016).Half the number of new nurses
in their first year of practice become emotionally exhausted and majority of them experience
‘incivility’ at work(Laschinger et al., 2016). There is a gap between what the students are
taught to expect and what they actually experience once they commence their practice. Chang
and Daly (2015) describe this gap as a ‘reality shock’.
Critical analysis
The experiences of nurses during the very first years of professional practice have
great influence on their future career path (Parker et al., 2014).These first years of practice
can be termed as a ‘vulnerable time’ because it is during this period that nurses make
decisions that portray the intent to commit to the profession (Parker et al., 2014).The nurses
might also decide to leave their profession during this time. There are some factors which
influence the transition from a graduate nurse to a professional practice. First, the great
difference between the graduate's expectations and the actuality(Christensen, et al. 2016). The
experiences that these nurses go through are different from what they perceived initially.
Many nurses experience performance anxiety (Hofler & Thomas, 2016).The nurses
feel that their knowledge is not adequate. During the very first days of practice, they look at

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GRADUATE NURSE TO PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
other staff who know exactly who they should talk to, what they ought to do and when to do
it and this makes them feel incapable and self doubts starts. The nurses end up wishing that
they could go back to college and learn more. Performance anxiety influences how well a
nurse demonstrates mastery.
The personal qualities of a nurse like maturity, age and motivation can also influence
the transition. A nurse who is known exactly what he or she wants to achieve in the career
will put a lot of effort to grow in the profession. A nurse’s personality will affect his or her
approach during difficult or even stressful experiences.
The new practicing nurses experience a challenge when they have to manage the
responsibilities for a number of patients simultaneously (Chang & Daly, 2015). There are
many patients in the hospital and at the end of the day, the nurses are emotionally and
physically exhausted. At times, the nurses have to work overtime and they were unprepared
for this (Laschinger & Boamar, 2016).The burn out affects their work negatively. The nurses
may disconnect from their work and colleagues (Hofler & Thomas, 2016). Burn out is a key
factor that pushes a nurse to make the decision of leaving the job or even the nursing career
(Laschinger & Boamar, 2016).
The new graduate nurses will need guidance during the beginning of their practice. He
or she will ‘not work in isolation but within an organizational environment’(Mellor &
Gregoric, 2016).
Maslach and Leiter's areas of work life model and Greenhaus et al's theory of work
life balance can be adopted to ensure that graduate nurses will work effectively once they
start professional practice(Laschinger & Boamar, 2016). Six areas of work life are
considered. First, manageable work leads. This considers a nurse's physical and emotional
capabilities this reducing burn out. Secondly, controlling overwork. This is the ability of the