title: Responsible but unprepared: experiences of newly educated nurses in hospital care.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to highlight the experience of being newly educated nurses working in internal medicine and surgical units. The nurses were asked to recount their initial work experiences using a narrative approach. A phenomenological hermeneutic method developed for life experience research was applied in the analyses. The study participants were surprised by the discrepancy between the ideals and the theoretical and practical knowledge gained during their nursing education, and the assigned hospital tasks designated as routine care. Prominent features of this were a focus on medical diagnostics and treatment, task orientation and efficiency. Holistic nursing was not felt to be a priority within the unit. This led to frustration and feelings of inadequacy and unpreparedness. They also felt that the responsibility was overwhelming. The findings described are discussed in the context of related publications.
authors.affiliation: University of Nordland, Faculty of Professional Studies, 8049 Bodø, Norway. Electronic address: liv.helen.johansen.odland@uin.no.
authors.forename: Liv-Helen
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Odland
authors.affiliation: University of Nordland, Faculty of Professional Studies, 8049 Bodø, Norway.
authors.forename: Torild
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sneltvedt
authors.affiliation: Lovisenberg Deaconal University College, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Venke
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sörlie
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004511:Education, Nursing, Graduate; D005260:Female; D006757:Hospital Units; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital; D036301:Qualitative Research; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Hospital nursing care; Nurses; Recently educated; Responsibility; Unprepared