New graduate transitions: leaving the nest, joining the flight

Abstract

This review will explore the lived experience of the transition of new nursing graduates in their first year of practice, the implications to nursing and consequences of status quo, and actions required to support new graduates in their transition to practice. The new graduate eagerly anticipates their first position in the 'real world' but often experience challenges in their first year of practice. A literature review highlights the historical inaction and the confirmed lived experiences of new graduate nurses. New graduate transition into the workforce has implications on both an individual and societal level. No longer can one ignore the need to recruit and retain nurses, especially new graduates. Implemented collaborative and innovative efforts are required to support new graduate nurse transition to practice. Nurse Managers must question why the disenfranchisement and marginalization of new graduates continues. Persistent inertia impacts recruitment and retention of graduate nurses and patient safety, transforming episodic challenges into chronic systemic issues. This article will contribute to new nursing knowledge by providing a Canadian perspective of demographic trends of the Registered Nurse (RN) and salient actions required to resolve the discourse of new graduate transition into the workplace.