Ready to Practice? An Examination of New Graduates’ Feelings of Confidence and Preparedness to Practice as a Registered Nurse
Presenter Major
Nursing
Presentation Type
Poster
Location
Hays Theatre, Wilbur Arts Building
Start Date
26-4-2024 10:45 AM
End Date
26-4-2024 11:30 AM
Description (Abstract)
Background: Competence in nursing practice is multidimensional, encompassing components of knowledge, skills, and attitudes to deliver safe, effective care.
Purpose: To examine a national sample of new graduate nurses’ feelings of confidence and preparedness through the lens of Social Cognitive Theory (Bandura, 1986).
Methods: Quantitative descriptive secondary analysis of data drawn from the National Student Nurses Association (NSNA) annual survey data sets representing a sample of 2021-2022 (n = 2824) and 2022-2023 (n = 2120) graduates.
Results: NCLEX pass rates increased by 5% for the 2022-2023 graduates. Feelings of confidence decreased by 14 (range 0-100) for the same year. Many, 44% (2021-2022) and 38% (2022-2023), felt their nursing education did not adequately prepare them for employment.
Conclusions: Although NCLEX pass rates increased, new graduates’ confidence decreased. Individuals are more likely to succeed if they judge themselves as capable. Exploring new graduates' attitudes about practice may prove beneficial and improve outcomes.
Keywords
Confidence, New Graduate Nurses, Prelicensure Nursing Education, Social Cognitive Theory, Transition to Practice
Related Pillar(s)
Service, Study
Ready to Practice? An Examination of New Graduates’ Feelings of Confidence and Preparedness to Practice as a Registered Nurse
Hays Theatre, Wilbur Arts Building
Background: Competence in nursing practice is multidimensional, encompassing components of knowledge, skills, and attitudes to deliver safe, effective care.
Purpose: To examine a national sample of new graduate nurses’ feelings of confidence and preparedness through the lens of Social Cognitive Theory (Bandura, 1986).
Methods: Quantitative descriptive secondary analysis of data drawn from the National Student Nurses Association (NSNA) annual survey data sets representing a sample of 2021-2022 (n = 2824) and 2022-2023 (n = 2120) graduates.
Results: NCLEX pass rates increased by 5% for the 2022-2023 graduates. Feelings of confidence decreased by 14 (range 0-100) for the same year. Many, 44% (2021-2022) and 38% (2022-2023), felt their nursing education did not adequately prepare them for employment.
Conclusions: Although NCLEX pass rates increased, new graduates’ confidence decreased. Individuals are more likely to succeed if they judge themselves as capable. Exploring new graduates' attitudes about practice may prove beneficial and improve outcomes.
