Abstract
AimsThe aim of the study was to examine the association between the characteristics of a nursing student’s final clinical practicum and the success of transition of newly graduated nurses (NGNs) in six European countries.DesignA longitudinal design with two data collections points (pre‐ and post‐graduate).MethodsThe data were collected with an online survey between May 2018 and April 2020 from graduating nursing students (n = 1796) in Finland, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Lithuania and Spain. Altogether, 642 NGNs responded to the second questionnaire 1 year after graduation. Logistic and linear regression analyses were used to examine the associations between five clinical practicum characteristics and three indicators for the success of transition (ease of transition, turnover intentions and occupational commitment). Models were adjusted for demographic and background/workplace factors and professional competence.ResultsSeveral associations were observed between the different clinical practicum characteristics and the indicators for a successful transition. Good pedagogical atmosphere and good supervisory relationship were associated with higher likelihood of an easy transition. Good leadership style of the ward manager, good premises of nursing care on the ward and a good supervisory relationship were associated with higher occupational commitment. No consistent association with turnover intention was found.ConclusionHaving a good final clinical practicum before graduation can contribute to an easier transition experience for newly NGNs and strengthen their commitment to the nursing profession.ImpactThis study adds to the limited existing knowledge about the importance of final clinical practicums in shaping the transition process and occupational commitment of NGNs. Investing in creating a good final practicum experience could help healthcare organizations engage new nursing professionals and thus alleviate the existing shortage of nurses.
Highlights
There are 27.9 million nurses in the global nursing workforce, confirming nurses as the largest occupational group in health care (WHO, 2020)
Occupational commitment in nursing is conceptualized as a sense of belonging to the profession, connection to work and professional behaviours that results from the acquisition of knowledge, skills and attitudes
Even if none of the practicum dimensions were consistently associated with newly graduated nurses (NGNs)’ turnover intentions, previous work suggests that the link between final clinical practicum and turnover intentions could be mediated by transition experience (Kaihlanen et al, 2020)
Summary
There are 27.9 million nurses in the global nursing workforce, confirming nurses as the largest occupational group in health care (WHO, 2020). NGNs are expected to be competent, manage heavy workloads and complex patient care, and quickly take responsibility and function effectively in a new role and often in a new nursing environment This can result in stress and exhaustion (Duchscher, 2008; Halpin et al, 2017; Labrague & McEnroe-Petitte, 2018), which, in turn, may undermine professional commitment (Hoeve et al, 2020; Raižiene & Endriulaitiene, 2007) and along with a weak professional identity (Zhang et al, 2017), contribute to NGNs’ intentions to leave the profession (Boamah & Laschinger, 2016; Butler & Johnson, 2020; Rudman et al, 2014). Occupational commitment forms a moral understanding of the provision of good care, the recognition of independence, self-regulation and responsibility in the nursing profession (García-Moyano et al, 2019)
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