Development of a new graduate nurse program evaluation
Date
2012-06-21
Authors
Mitchell, Amanda
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Abstract
Nursing workplace demographics are changing as increasing numbers of new graduate
nurses (NGNs) are being hired across health care organizations (HCO) and experienced nurses
are retiring. Although most NGNs are hired on adult acute medical and surgical units, more
specialized areas such as cardiac, renal and even emergency departments are hiring on NGNs. At
the same time, patient acuity levels are changing as the acuity of patients in the hospital is
increasing. These issues, combined with inadequate staffing levels and a resulting heavy
workload on the units, lead to high expectations of NGNs to ‘hit the ground running’ and
integrate quickly into the role of qualified nurse.
Many research studies have described the difficulties that NGNs face as they transition
from being a student to a fully qualified nurse working in their first position. It can be an
overwhelming and stressful experience as NGN’s feel increasingly challenged, overwhelmed,
and defeated by the multifaceted demands they encounter. Negative outcomes of stress
associated with transitioning from student to qualified nurse are burn-out, exhaustion, decreased
job satisfaction, increased turnover rates, low self confidence, and leaving the nursing profession
(Boychuk Duchscher, 2008; Halfer, & Graf, 2006). Not only is this costly for HCOs but it
greatly impacts patient care. In response to these identified challenges, HCOs have implemented
NGN support programs to ease this transition and decrease negative outcomes for nurses and
patients.
Five years ago Providence Health Care implemented a NGN program, which has
developed over the years into a well structured and organized support program. The Director of
Education and Research identified that a program evaluation was important and made it one of
the objectives for the organization’s strategic plan. The intent of this project is to outline an
evaluation plan identifying useful methods and tools that can be used when evaluating the NGN
program PHC. The data collected will inform program and organizational leaders regarding
which program goals and objectives are being met and which areas require further improvement.
Description
Keywords
development, graduate nurse, program evaluation