International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences (Jan 2024)
Operational managers’ perceptions of newly qualified professional nurses’ readiness for the professional role
Abstract
Background: Operational nurse managers have a vital role to play when supporting newly qualified professional nurses transitioning to their independent practice role. As newly qualified professional nurses find the transition to their new role difficult. Given the challenges that newly qualified professional nurses experience during the transition to practice, support is essential for newly qualified professional nurses, for them to become efficient, safe, confident, and competent in their professional roles. Objectives: To explore operational managers lived experiences supporting newly qualified professional nurses experienced transition towards their professional role. Setting: The study was conducted at two public hospitals in the Western Cape, South Africa. Methods: This study employed a descriptive qualitative research approach using semi structured interviews and thematic analysis was guided by Braun and Clarke. Results: This study was part of a larger doctoral study. However, the larger study consisted of three categories of participants and a total of 25 participants. Three overarching themes were discovered. This article reports the findings of the operational manager group. The overarching theme discovered: To be clinical independent. Sub-themes: The clinical environment, Learning through experiences and Transfer of learning. Conclusion: The operational managers described the newly qualified professional nurses’ readiness for the professional role as a reality shock. This is influenced by factors such how the clinical environment is being experienced and how the newly qualified professional nurses perceive their transition. However, readiness for the professional is achievable through personal drive, coupled with support and guidance.
