title: Self-perception of readiness for clinical practice: A survey of accelerated Masters program graduate registered nurses.
abstract: Accelerated nursing programs are gaining momentum as a means of career transition into the nursing profession for mature age learners in an attempt to meet future healthcare workforce demands in Australia. With a gap in the literature on readiness for practice of graduates from accelerated nursing programs at the Masters level the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the program based on graduates' preparedness for practice and graduate outcomes. Using a descriptive, exploratory design an online survey was used to explore the perception of graduate nurses' readiness for clinical practice. Forty-nine graduates from a nursing Masters program at an Australian university completed the survey defining readiness for practice as knowledge of self-limitations and seeking help, autonomy in basic clinical procedures, exhibiting confidence, possessing theoretical knowledge and practicing safe care. Graduates perceived themselves as adequately prepared to work as a beginner practitioner with their perception of readiness for clinical practice largely positive. The majority of participants agreed that the program had prepared them for work as a beginner practitioner with respondents stating that they felt adequately prepared in most areas relating to clinical practice. This would suggest that educational preparation was adequate and effective in achieving program objectives.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Melbourne School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, 161 Barry Street, Carlton, Victoria 3053, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cantlay
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Melbourne School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, 161 Barry Street, Carlton, Victoria 3053, Australia.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Salamanca
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Melbourne School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, 161 Barry Street, Carlton, Victoria 3053, Australia.
authors.forename: Cherie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Golaw
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Melbourne School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, 161 Barry Street, Carlton, Victoria 3053, Australia.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Melbourne School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, 161 Barry Street, Carlton, Victoria 3053, Australia.
authors.forename: Carly
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maas
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Melbourne School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, 161 Barry Street, Carlton, Victoria 3053, Australia; Deakin University, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Geelong, Melbourne Burwood Campus, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Victoria 3125, Australia. Electronic address: p.nicholson@deakin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nicholson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D004511:Education, Nursing, Graduate / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012649:Self Concept; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities / Q000458:organization & administration
keywords: Accelerated nursing programs; Clinical competence; Graduate nurse program; Masters prepared nursing programs; New graduate nurses; Readiness for clinical practice