Transition to practice for newly qualified nurses: Perceptions and support available for a smooth transition

Transitioning from a student nurse to a qualified nurse can be stressful for new nurses. The experiences of the newly qualified nurse in the early years of practice can have a lasting effect on the perceptions and decisions these newly qualified makes of the nursing profession. Most hospitals in Ghana do not have structured support programmes to assist newly qualified nurses. A qualitative exploratory descriptive approach was used to explore newly qualified nurses’ perceptions of the transition process and the available support at the health facility for clinical skills readiness. A purposive sampling technique was employed to select newly qualified nurses from a Regional Hospital in Ghana, and a semi-structured interview guide was used to collect data. Saturation was achieved after the 12th participant. Data were manually analysed using thematic analysis. Two themes and six subthemes emerged from the data analysis. Transition was perceived as challenging, eliciting emotional reactions and enhancing professional growth and development, while the support available was organizational support, superior support, and support from colleagues. The transition period is a challenging moment for newly qualified nurses; however, the provision of support enhances the transition process. The contributions of newly qualified nurses to health facilities cannot be overemphasised. There is a need for nurse managers, health institutions, and policymakers to provide intentional training for newly qualified nurses so that the expected outcomes can be achieved.