Author: Katrina M. Kreichelt

Publisher:

Published: 2020

Total Pages: 78

ISBN-13:

"It is essential for new graduate nurses to possess professional confidence in order to practice and provide high quality care in the healthcare system today. Unfortunately, many new graduate nurses are entering the field without it. The purpose of this descriptive qualitative study was to explore how new graduate BSN nurses perceive their professional confidence and what contributes to it during their first year of practice in the hospital setting. Data collection involved one individual semi-structured recorded conference interview with each of the five participants through the Zoom application which was transcribed verbatim. Each transcript was analyzed using manual content analysis with a constant comparative technique. Five major themes as well as four facilitators and four inhibitors to the development of professional confidence emerged. The five themes related to new graduate nurses' perception of professional confidence included knowledge and experience, interprofessional collaboration, independence, ongoing learner, and critical thinking. The four facilitators were positive feedback, support systems, asking for help, and perseverance. The four inhibitors were self-doubt, not being confident, being unprepared, and fear. These findings have implications for both undergraduate nursing education programs and nursing practice in the hospital setting. Undergraduate nursing programs should evaluate implementing strategies that better prepare new graduate nurses for their transition into the professional role. Healthcare professionals involved in developing new graduate nurses in practice, specifically nurse managers and preceptors, should be aware that they are entering practice without professional confidence and should focus efforts on what they can do to help promote its development." -- From page v.