This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Waite, R. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Psychiatric Nurses: Transitioning from Student to Advance Beginner RN

College of Nursing and Health Professions, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, waiteathome{at}netzero.net

BACKGROUND: The transitional experience from student nurse to advance beginner registered nurse (RN) is met with significant stressors, challenges, rewards, and thrills. The process and experience undergone by the RN can be the deciding factor for his or her commitment to the profession. Identifying factors to enhance retention is critical given the nursing shortage and changes within the health care environment. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this research was to describe and explore the transitional process and the lived experience of advance beginner nurses employed in mental health facilities. STUDY DESIGN: This was a qualitative study, which used a phenomenologic approach with audio-taped interviews of 15 nurses. RESULTS: There were significant variances regarding the nurses’ expectations, orientation process, responsibilities, and supportive interventions from colleagues. These participants identified several beneficial concepts that could mitigate negative affective states, which, in turn, may effectively reduce the premature exit of new nurses from the profession. CONCLUSIONS: The process of connecting educational experiences and practice was inadequate. However, participants identified strategies that might be useful in increasing retention and positively influencing the transitioning from student to RN.

Key Words: advance beginner nurse • psychiatric setting • transition to practice • university-workplace transition

Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, Vol. 10, No. 4, 173-180 (2004)
DOI: 10.1177/1078390304267926


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				L. Alber, L. Augustus, S. Hahn, J. Penkert, R. Sauer, and J. DeSocio Applying Benner's Model to Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Self-Ratings of Role Competence Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, April 1, 2009; 15(2): 126 - 137. [Abstract] [PDF]