Graduate nursing performance : a descriptive study of the perceptions of graduates, preceptors and clinical nurse consultants in Tasmania

摘要

This descriptive study used the Australian Nursing Council Incorporated (ANCI)udCompetencies eighteen major headings as a set of performance criteria to investigateudfour aspects of graduate nursing performance:ud• the perceptions of registered nurses (RN) (Graduates, Preceptors and ClinicaludNurse Consultants (CNC)) regarding the expected level of graduate nursingudperformance at the completion of a Bachelor of Nursing (BN) course, and theudcommencement of employment as a registered nurse;ud• the perceptions of registered nurses of the actual level of graduate nursingudperformance near the completion of the first professional year;ud• the components of nursing practice registered nurses believed were critical to audsatisfactory level of graduate nursing performance; andud• the attributes of a Graduate: pe:rc.f':ivf':ci hy registered nurses to represent outstandingudnursing performance.udAll Graduates from the University of Tasmania's BN 1996 programme, RNudPreceptors who worked with the Graduates, and the CNC's of the areas whereudGraduates were employed were invited to participate in the study.udFindings revealed that Graduates expected to be functioning at a higher level ofudperformance at the beginning of their graduate year than did the Preceptors and CNCs.udThere was little agreement between the three groups. When agreement between pairsudof groups was examined Preceptors and CNCs agreed the most, followed byudGraduates and Preceptors and Graduates and CNCs.udWhen perceptions were sought regarding Graduates' nursing performance near theudend of their graduate year Graduates again rated their nursing performance higher thanudPreceptors and CNCs. There was little agreement between the three groups. Whenudagreement between pairs of groups was examined Graduates and Preceptors agreedudthe most. Overall, the Graduate and Preceptor groups were more consistent than theudCNC group in their rating of Graduate performance.udAll three groups identified eight performance criteria that were seen as important toudachieving a satisfactory nursing performance. These critical Competencies could beudinterpreted as a beginning description by RNs of their beliefs about "good nursingudpractice" and a "good nurse".udFor the Graduate group "safe practice" and "personal/professional continuingudeducation" were the most frequently cited attributes of outstanding Graduateudperformance. For the Preceptor and CNC groups the most frequently cited attributesudwere "communication skills" and "knowledgeable and skillful caregiving".udThe findings of the study would suggest that the Preceptors and CNCs, mostudimmediately involved in the transition experiences of Graduates, need to discuss andudshare expectations and perceptions of graduate nursing performance betweenudthemselves and with the Graduates.