From enrolled nurse to registered nurse in the rural setting: the graduate nurse experience

The study found that these new graduates had very high expectations of their performance and experienced difficulty in adjusting to their new role and experienced high anxiety levels during the transition process in South Australian rural settings.

Abstract

The expectations placed on these new graduates by clinicians and managers far exceeded their level of expertise and resulted in them experiencing high anxiety levels. Ensuring this unique group of graduates are well supported throughout their transition phase is of utmost importance and this has implications for nurse managers, organisational administrators, nurse clinicians and future graduates. Rural ENs are increasingly undertaking nursing degrees and are urgently needed in rural settings. Accordingly it is in the best interests of managers and others to encourage and support them through an effective transition process.