AGENCY EDUCATORS' EXPECTATIONS FOR BACCALAUREATE GRADUATE NURSES

Abstract

Today's new graduate nurses are entering a work world that is challenging and ever changing. Graduate nurses are having a difficult time transitioning into nursing careers that involve intense, fast-paced work environments; advanced technology; and caring for complex and high-acuity patients. New graduate nurses are not coming into the work field equipped to handle the challenges (Burns & Poster, 2008; Etheridge, 2007). Nurse educators at the baccalaureate level need to look at what they can do to better prepare graduates for the transition to practice as a registered nurse. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe what agency educators' expectations are of the newly graduated baccalaureate prepared nurses. By exploring this phenomena with agency educators, a clearer vision of what is expected and needed in nursing education may be obtained. This information can be used to make educational changes to meet the needs of both the students and the agencies where they will work after graduation. This qualitative, naturalistic inquiry used interviewing as its main data collection tool. A convenience sample of 10 area agency educators was interviewed. The data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Study results showed that agency nurse educators have expectations for graduate nurses at the time of hire related to: (a) Clinical Skills, (b) Confidence, and (c) Professionalism. The theme Clinical Skills is subcategorized into: Assessment Skills, Psychomotor Skills, and Critical Thinking Skills. Nurse educators reported they expect graduate nurses to have the beginning development of these expectations, but do not expect graduate nurses to be competent in them at the time of hire.