Unveiling the challenges encountered by newly graduated nurses during night shifts:A descriptive qualitative study

Objectives:Newly graduated nurses commence night shifts during a phase of heightened vulnerability to reality shock,exacerbating the challenges faced by these graduates.Therefore,this study aimed to identify the challenges experienced by newly graduated nurses when undertaking night shifts in order to help identify a strategy for supporting their adaptation to these shifts.Methods:Semi-structured personal interviews were used to collect data.Fifteen newly graduated nurses were selected to participate in the study by purposive sampling method from November 2021 to March 2022 in one of four general hospitals situated in the southwestern region of Japan.Semi-structured interviews were analyzed by using thematic analysis.Results:The analysis revealedfive central themes and nine subthemes:challenges in task efficiency(task organization challenges,challenges in time-constrained task performance),challenges in responding to patients’changing conditions(challenges in responding to patients’irregular conditions,challenges in responding to nighttime changes in patients’behaviors),challenges in independent practice(challenges in engaging in independent nursing practice,challenges in dealing with unexpected events),challenges in establishing collaborative relationships(challenges in working closely with other staff,challenges in establishing collaborative relationships during night shifts with limited resources),challenges in adapting to shift work(challenges in managing physical conditions for shift work).Conclusions:Newly graduated nurses often encounter challenges in performing their tasks during the transition period.When working night shifts,they face additional hurdles unique to nocturnal duties.Thefindings underscore the necessity for these graduates to develop night shift-specific readiness to effectively navigate the demands inherent in such work schedules.

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the Competency Model for Nursing Managers in the Training of Newly Appointed Head Nurses

Objective:To explore the effectiveness of the competency model for nursing managers in the training of newly appointed head nurses.Methods:Eighteen newly appointed head nurses from Yichang Central People’s Hospital,selected between August 2023 and July 2024,were chosen as the research subjects.Based on the nursing manager competency model,corresponding training programs were developed,and these 18 head nurses were trained accordingly.Results:After the training,all newly appointed head nurses passed the theoretical assessments,with a pass rate of 100.00%.The pass rates for two rounds of assessment were 100.00%and 94.54%,respectively.There was no significant difference in the performance evaluation scores between new and senior head nurses in terms of standardized services,nursing quality,nursing research and teaching,and patient satisfaction(P>0.05).Conclusion:The competency model for nursing managers has a significant effect on the training of newly appointed head nurses.It effectively enhances management awareness,facilitates role transition,and,to some extent,improves the management and leadership capabilities of head nurses.It holds high value for broader implementation.

Mixed Expectations in the Recruitment Settlement during COVID-19 Pandemic: Experiences of Newly Employed Nurses in Oman

Introduction: Hospital nurses’ recruitment during the COVID-19 pandemic is a major challenge for the hospital, the staff themselves and for their families & relatives. Although the world has undergone different pandemics and disasters, the literature has shown that the new nurses still face uncertainty in dealing with health emergencies and disasters that impose significant stress on their performance at work. The situation in Oman is not different and little is known about the newly employed nurses’ experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: The qualitative study was designed to include face to face interviews of the newly employed nurses between May and December 2020 at the biggest tertiary hospital in Muscat, the capital of Oman to explore their experiences and how they confronted the COVID-19 pandemic challenges during their internship period. Result: The data was analyzed through qualitative manifest content analysis and disclosed different experiences which were framed into four contexts: Introductory Nurses Plan, Hospital Environment, Nurses Characters and Nurses Families & Relatives. The negative experiences were mainly related to the intense internship requirements, non-availability of the preceptors, hospital environment and COVID-19 circumstances. On the other hand, the positive experiences were mainly related to their self-motivation, recruitment satisfaction, and family encouragement and support. Conclusion: Clear nurses’ lack of knowledge towards COVID-19 pandemic was disclosed and associated with mixed emotional insights towards themselves, their families and relatives, their preceptors and towards the hospital environment including their preparatory plan. The study identified the nurses’ stressors and motivators that could be addressed with a clear need for preparatory adjustments to support newly employed nurses in future appointments with a lot of involvements shared responsibilities and implications.