Experiences of Registered Nurses in the Transition to Healthcare Professionals: A Study from Military and Civilian Hospitals in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Registered nurses (RNs) often experience substantial job dissatisfaction and stress during the transition from a student to a healthcare professional.  However, multicenter studies in this area are limited, and little is known whether the transition experience of RNs in a military hospital (MH) is different from that in civilian hospitals (CH).  This study presents a multicenter survey on the transition experiences of RNs and compares of transition experiences of RNs in CH and MH. A multicenter survey was conducted in military and civilian hospitals in Saudi Arabia, using a modified version of the validated Casey-Fink Graduate Nurse Experience Survey.  In the survey, 278 RNs participated. Of these, 71.2%were under 25 years of age, and 56% were women. Approximately 36% of the respondents were from MH. A majority of  RNs (89.9%) cited fears related to patients' safety as a difficulty in the successful transition.  When compared with RNs from CH, a higher number of RNs from MH believed that improved orientation could be a support in transition (OR: 2.05, 95% CI 1.23-3.43, P=0.008); conversely, a significantly lower number of respondents from MH believed that an improved work environment could be a support in transition (OR: 0.30, 95%CI 0.16-0.55, P=0.001). Most RNs consider their fear for patients’ safety as a difficult aspect of their transition experience. RNs in MH and CH have a different perception of the least satisfying aspect of their job.

Keywords: Transition experience, nurses, orientation, and work environment

DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/11-6-03

Publication date:March 31^st 2021