Abstract Aims To investigate the effect of a transition programme including cognitive‐behaviour‐based preceptorship intervention on ICU new graduate nurses' (NGNs)' professional identity and their intention to remain employed. Design One‐arm pre‐ and post‐test design followed the TREND Statement. Methods NGNs' professional identity and intention to remain employed were measured at baseline (T1), postintervention (1 month, T2) and 6‐month follow‐up (T3). Results Fifty‐three NGNs completed the programme, and their professional identity score significantly increased postintervention [from 111.5 (SD = 16.72) at T1 to 114.2 (SD = 9.12) at T2, p 0.05). The transition programme was effective to improve ICU NGNs' professional identity immediately after the intervention, but the increment did not maintain at the 6‐month follow‐up.
