Abstract
Background
In Australia, there is an increasing demand for registered nurses in primary health
care. Registered nurses graduating from university typically enter the workforce via
supported transition to professional practice programs in acute-care hospital settings.
A prospective strategy to create a sustainable primary health care workforce is to
develop comparable transition programs in primary health care settings, such as general
practice. We developed, implemented, and evaluated Australia’s first transition to
professional practice in primary care program.
Aim
To explore the experiences and perceptions of graduate registered nurses and practice
nurses participating in a novel transition to professional practice in primary care
program.
Methods
Thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with graduate registered nurses (n = 4) and their preceptors (practice nurses, n = 5) on completion of the program.
Findings
Three themes emerged from the graduate registered nurse interviews: opportunities for education and clinical development, job satisfaction, and career progression opportunities. Graduate registered nurses were satisfied with the available learning opportunities,
indicated a career in primary health care could be potentially rewarding, and anticipated
moderate career progression opportunities within general practice. Preceptor themes
included program positivity and early career opportunities. The preceptors were positive about the program and believed it supported the graduate
registered nurses to become confident and competent. However, both the graduate registered
nurses and preceptors perceived an acute-care hospital transition to professional
practice program was necessary to gain adequate nursing skills, even if they intended
to have a future career in primary health care. Furthermore, they appeared to believe
that a career in general practice is more appropriate for “older nurses”.
Discussion
These beliefs may be a barrier for transition to professional practice in primary
care programs to develop and support a sustainable primary health care workforce.
Conclusions
Improved primary health care transition programs, policy, and educational strategies
are required.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: May 20, 2017
Accepted:
March 29,
2017
Received in revised form:
March 15,
2017
Received:
October 7,
2016
Identification
Copyright
© 2017 Australian College of Nursing Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
