Professional Experience Placement

Do orientation programs help new graduates? This is a question explored by Strauss et al (2015). The authors explored graduate nurses perspectives of a structured orientation program if they were in one. The rationale behind this study were structured orientation programs useful to assist with preparation of nurses to be competent and confident professionals in the workplace. Addressing the theory-practice gap is necessary to enable graduates to become comfortable as registered nurses and become useful members of the team rapidly. Additionally, recruitment and retention is an a human resource issue.

This study was a cross-sectional survey of 100 graduate nurses, in Israel. Approximately half of the respondents were having a structured orientation program. The authors describe previous literature that found that programs can reduce turnover in the first year of registration. These authors reported that graduates need between 6-9 months to become confident in their new role. They also found new graduate education needs to focus on practical skill development and clinical coaching assists with transition from new graduate to competent registered nurse.

This study found that a structured orientation program assisted with new graduates adapting to the healthcare environment and satisfaction with working within the team. These authors also reported that mentoring assisted with retention in the workplace. A personalised plan that accounts for individual needs is important to scaffold learning in situ for new graduates. While this study supports the findings of other studies it reinforces the concepts of support, guidance and socialisation are important for welcoming, belongingness and confidence building. The bonus is retention of staff beyond the first year of registration.

Clinical supervisors are integral in this process of support and guidance of student nurses and closing the gap between theory and practice while students are undertaking clinical placement.

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