Navigating Bachelor (generic) graduate nurses’ views about one-year internship program: a qualitative descriptive study related to role transition

Abstract

Background: On completing the graduate study, nurses require to be posted for a one-year internship program (IP). In other words, it is a form of ‘transition or a change in a role.' As health care professionals, role transition is an inevitable, constant and dynamic process. The journey from student to a registered nurse is exciting as well as complex phenomena. The study was conducted to ‘explore the views of nurse internee, who have completed their one year internship period, about their experiences related to that important phase of transition. 

Methodology: A qualitative descriptive study with purposive and convenience sampling method was conducted. Data was collected through interviews and analyzed through a method proposed by Colorafi KJ & Evans B (2016).

Results: Eight interviews were conducted. The main theme identified was “Internship as a professional endeavor”. Four subthemes as ambiguity in understanding objectives of the internship, administrative and communication problems, supportive environment and ethical practice environment were also identified.

Conclusion: It was concluded that the internship period is a very essential component for achieving professional growth and skill acquisition, but it was also stressed that it can only be made effective, if objectives of internship be made clear to interns and communication and administrative problems solved on priority basis as to create an ethically sound and professionally favourable conditions for interns.