A Qualitative Study of Nursing Student Experiences of Clinical Practice
Teresa DeMass
NRS-433V
March 19, 2011
A Qualitative Study of Nursing Student Experiences of Clinical Practice
Introduction and Purpose
1.) According to the March/April 2010 issue, JOURNAL FOR NURSES IN STAFF DEVELOPMENT published an article ???Expectations, Perceptions, and Satisfaction of Graduate Nurses???. The study was of qualitative and quantitative nature, performed and completed by Bridget Gill, BSN, RN, Erika Deagan, RN, Molly McNett, PhD, and RN. The complete journal article citation is as follows: Gill, B, Deagen, E. & McNett, M (2010) 26(2):11-17.
2.) ???The purpose of this study was to investigate the expectations, perceptions, and satisfaction of graduate nurses within the first month of employment and after 6 and 12 months of employment??? (Gill, B, Deagen, E. & McNett, M 2010 ). The chief objective was to find out why graduate nurses were leaving their initial position after a short period of time and then evaluate ways that they could make the transition into nursing easier.
Review of the Literature
1.) Gill, B, Deagen, E. & McNett, M (2010) referred to articles in their research from 1994 ??“ 2006. The research articles specified the expectations graduates had in reference to the ability to function as a nurse. While this research surveyed the relationship between the graduate nurse??™s perceptions and their reasons for leaving their first positions, the satisfaction levels of the graduate nurses were not considered.
2.) The emphasis of this study was to understand what each new graduate??™s expectations, perceptions and satisfactions were and also why they still intended on leaving their first position. These studies were done 3 different times during a twelve month period. The first study was completed at the 1st month, then at the 6th month and finally at the 12th month of service. After completing the individualize interview each new graduate completed a brief job perception and satisfaction survey. One new graduate stated ???I thought that (the nurses) were not very friendly (initially), but I thought that at least they would warm up to me you know after being there a year. It??™s not like I??™m going away???. Another stated ???Sometimes, when you first come out of nursing school, you??™re a little intimidated about you know will they be nice to me and the whole nurses eat their young thing so you??™re kind of apprehensive??? (Gill,B, Deagan,E McNett,M ,2010)
Study Design
1.) A qualitative and quantitative study design was used to research the ???expectations, perceptions, and satisfactions??? of the new graduates during their first year of employment.
Methods
1.) The method used for this research was a cohort study using qualitative and quantitative data collection. The study included graduate nurses that worked as RNs at a Level 1 trauma academic county hospital in the inpatient care areas.
Sampling
1.) New graduates meeting criteria were sent a letter explain the intent of the study. Those that wished to participate in a study were instructed to contact the investigator by telephone. All interviews were held outside of the unit they were working in.
2.) When interviewing the new graduates, all questions were open-ended, using the concepts identified in the Price-Mueller model. Interviews were later transcribed from the audiotapes from the interviews.
3.) There were 77 new graduates, 13 responded, only 7 completed the study.
Data Collection
1.) The study clearly stated the expectations, perceptions and satisfactions the new graduates were expecting to have and the frustrations they experienced during this first year of their employment. The process in collecting the data was used in a consistent manner. The content of the interview went unchanged throughout the first, second and third interviews. The purpose for the study was expressed plainly throughout the context of this research paper.
2.) Assumptions and biases were made specific by the researcher. This use of random sampling was utilized which decreased the likelihood of bias??™s being made. The biases are not clearly made in this paper though the method of random sampling was used. The final outcome of the study appeared logical as to the orientation process of nursing students, there fears and anxiety.
Data Analysis
1.) Qualitative interviews were captured on audiotapes and later transcribed using procedures outlined by Miles and Huberman (1994) for qualitative data analysis.
2.) Two level coding process was used to assemble the data. The first-level coding identified repetitive phrases and the second-level coding gathered these primary codes to ascertain the major topics the developed from the transcribed interviews.
3.) ???Descriptive statistics, including means, frequencies, and standard deviations, were calculated to describe the study sample. Additional descriptive analyses were performed using the quantitative data collected from the perceptions and satisfaction survey and the intent to leave survey??? (Gill, B, Deagan, E McNett, M, 2010).
Conclusions
1.) Future orientation and mentoring programs can be developed from this research. Providing this type of program may help elevated the loss of the new graduates within the first year of employment along with easing their expectations, perceptions and satisfactions.
2.) Another facet that would make the transition to the unit easier would be to have a comprehensive orientation for the new graduates that would show them the many versatile roles the nurses must adapt to daily.
3.) Welcoming them onto the unit and introducing them to the staff, making them aware of who would be resource for them should they need help and their preceptor is not available.
4.) New graduates will know their expectations, perceptions of their role as nurses will be clear and have a greater sense of satisfaction. This will give the new graduates a sense of being ???part of the team??? and decrease turnover, in turn benefits not only the organizations but the patients.
5.) An organization goes to the expense to train the new graduate once they are hired. This cost can be anywhere from $25,000-$64,000. This study can help them devise methods to retain these nurses.
References
Gill, B., Deagan, E., & McNett, M. (MARCH/APRIL 2010). Expectations, Perceptions, and Satisfaction of Graduate Nurses. JOURNAL FOR NURSES IN STAFF DEVELOPMENT, Volume 26, E11??“E17.
