New graduate registered nurses: Risk mitigation strategies to ensure safety and successful transition to practice

Abstract

AbstractThe COVID‐19 pandemic has impacted traditional pathways for new graduate registered nurses (NGRN's) transition to practice. In response to stay at home emergency orders in 2020, NGRN's experienced changes in pre‐licensure curriculum, clinical practicums, NCLEX testing, and licensure, all which influence preparedness for professional practice. The adverse impact on education and clinical training extends to all nursing students who attended higher education institutions of learning during 2020 to present and is a significant consideration with new graduates over the long‐term, whom will be caring for patients in healthcare settings. Well before this pandemic, literature identified that NGRN's were predisposed to knowledge‐practice gaps and lacked situational awareness. Recent nursing research emerging from the pandemic reveals a potentiating negative impact of the abbreviated pre‐licensure experiences on patient safety in the clinical setting. In the current healthcare environment, it is preemptive for healthcare institutions and schools of nursing to work cohesively to ensure patient safety through an increased emphasis on evidence‐based approaches to reduce patient harm and mitigate harm when it does occur. Further, in response to the increased demand for nurses by healthcare organizations, considerations for safety, risk management, and ethical care must be considered during the transition to practice for NGRN's.