Challenges in role transition of new nurse graduates: a comparative literature review

Abstract

Background: The nursing shortage, one major stumbling block debilitating the nursing profession, has been well addressed locally and internationally over the past decade. Many recent research studies indicated that one of the sources contributing to the shortage of nursing professionals is the attrition of new graduate nurses (NGN-s). Recent research studies indicated that the high attrition rates of NGNs are related to the challenges in role transition of NGNs. In the light of the current international nursing shortage, it is imperative to evaluate the NGN transition experiences in the Middle East as compared to the current literature in the developed countries.Purpose: This comparative literature review aims at exploring the transition challenges that new nurse graduates encounter in the Middle East compared to USA.Method: Cooper’s five stages of integrative literature review (Cooper, 1989) were followed in designing the methodology of this review.Findings: Role transition challenges in the Middle East were found to be similar to those in USA with a variation in the themes identified rather than the content specified under each theme. The Casey-Fink Graduate Nurse Experience Survey (2004), which was used most frequently and showed high reliability and validity in measuring role transition challenges, appeared to have most of the role transition challenges represented in its subscales.Implications: This review calls for more research studies assessing role transition challenges of NGNs in the Middle East. It also presents a valid and reliable tool to utilize in assessing the progress of NGNs in their transition into practice.