The Impact of a Nurse Externship Program on the Transition Process From Graduate to Registered Nurse

The focus group explored the perceptions of former nurses about the impact of the externship program on their transition into the professional nurse role and three themes induced from the analysis were being a part of the real scene; figuring out the environment; and gaining awareness and becoming frightened.

Abstract

In Brief This article reports the qualitative findings from a focus group interview conducted with six currently registered nurses who participated in a summer nurse externship program. It is Part II of a three-part study that examined the influence of nurse externship programs on the transition process from graduate to professional nurse. The focus group explored the perceptions of former nurses about the impact of the externship program on their transition into the professional nurse role. In the role of nurse externs, individuals were able to view, experience, and, consequently, come to understand the culture of nursing in an acute healthcare system without being full-fledged members of it. Three themes induced from the analysis of the findings were as follows: (1) being a part of the real scene; (2) figuring out the environment; and (3) gaining awareness and becoming frightened. This article, part II of a three-part series, reports the qualitative findings from a focus group interview conducted with six registered nurses who participated in a summer nurse externship program.