Nursing first year of practice, past, present and future: documenting the journey in New Zealand.
OBJECTIVE
Documenting the journey of graduate nurse support in New Zealand from local programmes to a nationally consistent framework.


BACKGROUND
Education of nurses in New Zealand has changed over the decades, from apprenticeship-style hospital-based training to academically prepared registered nurses. Newly graduated nurses require time to become confident within the clinical setting. To achieve this, a well-supported graduate nurse programme is required.


RESULTS
The authors utilized historical reviews of nursing education within New Zealand and current work being undertaken by a national working party to implement a nationally consistent graduate nurse programme.


RESULTS
Disparity between locally delivered graduate programmes. Lack of funding to provide a well-structured programme and the impact on the recruitment and retention of new nurses.


CONCLUSIONS
It was identified that there was a strong need to ensure graduate nurse programmes were consistent across New Zealand in order to support graduate nurses and retain them in the workforce.


CONCLUSIONS
management The first year of practice remains a challenging transition time with a need for a well-structured and supported programme. Key needs include learning activities grounded in practice experience, robust programme coordination, skilled clinical educators, preceptors, and a structured learning framework.
Adlam
Kerry-Ann
KA
Taranaki District Health Board, Private Bag 2016, New Plymouth, New Zealand. kerry-ann.adlam@tdhb.org.nz
Dotchin
Margaret
M
Hayward
Sue
S
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005544:Forecasting; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017145:Models, Educational; D016294:Models, Nursing; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009520:New Zealand; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011231:Preceptorship / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012944:Social Support; D014146:Training Support