Confidence of new nurse graduates in the application of environmental health in the nursing process

The purpose of this exploratory survey research was to examine and describe new graduate nurse's reports of their confidence in the application of environmental health in the nursing process. Specifically, a researcher designed survey was utilized for the self-reporting of the confidence of new nurse graduates in Connecticut to specific environmental health competencies from nursing leadership organizations, namely the American Nurses Association and the National League for Nursing. Each competency was aligned with the steps of the nursing process (Orlando, 1990), the foundation of nursing care. Bandura (1995) stated that the most effective way of building self-efficacy is success in the experiences through which one demonstrates mastery of the material. It is the new nurse graduate's confidence in their ability to perform a behavior and the strength of that confidence (self-efficacy) that greatly influences the performance of the behavior (Bandura, 1986, 1997). Benner's work, From Novice to Expert: Excellence and Power in Clinical Nursing Practice (1984), suggests that the skills and knowledge of a new nurse (one year or less from graduation) are reflective of their educational preparation.;This study found that the level of confidence of new nurse graduates in the incorporation of environmental health in the nursing process has significant areas for improvement. As well, as the competencies continued further into the phases of the nursing process, the level of confidence decreased. According to Bandura's Theory of Self-Efficacy (1995), new nurse graduates are less likely to pursue activities related to environmental health as they progress through the phases of nursing process. As well, as the step on each level of the nursing process is dependent on the timeliness and accuracy of the previous step, this lower level of confidence may impact the quality and success of each subsequent step. Finally, the nursing process is a continual loop, and the new nurse graduate may be less likely to begin the nursing process again in respects to environmental health due to this lower level of confidence and may impact patient care.;The findings derived from this study offer evidence for a more consistent and intentional inclusion of environmental health in nursing curriculum, threaded throughout the program of study including, theory, classroom, simulation, lab, and clinical experiences.