The Experience of New Graduate Nurses in Rural Practice

Objective: To explore the transition experience for new graduate nurses in rural practice settings. Design: This qualitative study used a hermeneutical-phenomenological design. Population, Sample, Setting, years: The study population was new graduate nurses undertaking a graduate nurse program within rural health care facilities of Northern New South Wales, Australia. Conducted in 2001, a purposive sample of ten new graduate nurses was used. Concept or Variables Studied Together: The transition experience for graduate nurses within rural health care facilities and the factors that influence the recruitment and retention of new graduate nurses within the rural nursing workforce. Methods: Individual face to face interviews. The data was analysed using thematic analysis and three major themes emerged that represented important aspects of the graduate's transition experience. Findings: Findings showed that previous connection with the rural area and undergraduate clinical experience within a rural health care facility influenced the new graduates decision to accept a rural graduate position. Additionally, the findings indicated that the ward culture, workload and level of responsibility within rural health care facilities were of concern for new graduates. Finally, their retention within the rural nursing workforce was influenced by disappointed with graduate nurse programs and the lack of permanent employment upon completion of graduate programs. Conclusions: There are specific aspects of the transition experience that are unique to graduate nurses within rural practice settings and, new graduate nurses are not viewed as an important long-term investment by rural health care facilities. Implications: this study will add significantly to the small body of knowledge that currently exists in Australia related to new graduate nurses in rural areas and has implications for undergraduate nursing preparation, planning and implementation of graduate support programs within rural areas. Additionally, this study highlights the overall recruitment and retention problems faced by the rural nursing workforce.