Date of Award
2018
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
Committee Chair
Gayle Casterline
Abstract
Upon entering the practice environment, newly graduated nurses often find themselves feeling underprepared for new professional role expectations (Kim, Lee, Eudey, Lounsbury, & Wede, 2015). New graduate nurses’ stress and lack of confidence forges a higher turnover potential (Kim et al., 2015), and increased stress among new graduate nurses may impact their ability to provide quality care (Fink, Krugman, Casey, & Goode, 2008; Theisen & Sandau, 2013). Implementing nurse residency programs have been shown to improve new graduate nurse retention, confidence, and competence (Silvestre, Ulrich, Johnson, Spector, & Blegen, 2017) and are designed to ease transition of new graduate nurses into their new professional role (Lin, Viscardi, & McHugh, 2014). The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of a one-year nurse residency program on the perception of new graduate nurses’ confidence in their perceived ability to provide safe, competent, patient care. Faculty at a Level III trauma center in southeastern United States designed a year-long program for new graduate nurse employees. Confidence levels were measured at two, six, and 12 month intervals using the Casey Fink Graduate Nurse Experience Survey. There was a significant main effect of emerging confidence through professional comfort, expectations, and supports on the average respondent new graduate nurse who participated in the residency program (F= 9.024, p = .004, η2 = .291). The period of greatest significance on the emerging confidence of new graduate nurses occurred in the 6-12 month interval (p < .001). Transitioning programs for new graduate nurses foster competence and confidence development. The greatest impact of the residency program occurred within the last six months indicating new graduate nurses need continual support throughout their first year of practice. Utilization of Watson’s Theory of Human Caring may assist in relationship building and could further assist in the professional development and support of novice nurses.
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Citation Information
Dobbins, Jennifer, "Graduate Nurses’ Perceived Confidence in Clinical Competence" (2018). Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects. 324.
https://digitalcommons.gardner-webb.edu/nursing_etd/324