Preparedness of bridging programme graduate nurses to assume the role of a newly qualified professional nurse

Abstract

Preparedness of bridging programme graduate nurses to assume the role of a newly qualified professional nurse has been an area of debate between nurse educators and employers in a rapidly changing healthcare environment. Factors such as heavy workloads, staffing shortages and increased patient turnover, can prove to be stressful for the graduate nurse, resulting in a lack of confidence in their ability to effectively carry out their new role in the clinical setting. Purpose of the study The purpose of this study was to explore the preparedness of bridging programme graduate nurses to assume the role of a newly qualified professional nurse. Methodology A quantitative, descriptive survey research design was used for the study. The sample for the study was 95 bridging programme graduate nurses who had graduated from the Private Nursing Education Institution in the year 2020 and were working in the private hospital environment for not more than a year. Data was obtained through a questionnaire on KwikSurvey. Findings The study established that bridging programme graduate nurses that had more than five years of working experience as an enrolled nursing auxiliary and enrolled nurse, had significantly increased patient care and management competencies. While 52.50% (n=50), that had less than one year of experience as an enrolled nursing auxiliary and enrolled nurse significantly reduced their general nursing care activities and management competency. The study also noted that 61% of the respondents did not receive clinical support from the unit manager. This study concluded that graduate nurses that had less than one year of work experience as an enrolled nursing auxiliary and an enrolled nurse significantly lowered their competencies in general and patient care activities. In this study, it was found that the bridging program graduate nurses needed more mentorship and activities that would enhance their general and patient competency because the more mentors they had, the more competent they were. The study further highlighted several challenges during their transition as a newly qualified professional nurse such as shift leading after a month after graduating and having no mentors to guide them in decision making; hence in this study it was noted that newly qualified graduate nurses must be provided with the necessary clinical and managerial assistance to better support them for their new role hence preventing new nurses from experiencing transition shock during their initial stages of transition from a graduate nurse to that of a professional nurse.