| The purpose of the cross-sectional, correlational, mixed needs assessment was to describe the experiences and explore the perceptions of new registered nurses in their first year of hospital direct patient care. The definition of a new registered nurse in this study is one who has graduated and has passed the state registered nurse licensing exam within the past year. The second objective of the study was to describe Tennessee hospital nursing leaders’ expectations and perceptions of new registered nurses’ workforce readiness. The study results on nurses revealed that new registered nurses (97.8%) desired to stay in the profession; whereas (76.9%) desired to stay in the position for the next 12 months. Three factors were the greatest predictors of the new nurses’ intent to stay in the current job. These included the extent of recognition and praise they received, their sense of control and responsibility in their jobs, and their sense of balance between work and family. The study results on nursing leaders revealed that Baccalaureate (BSN) prepared nurses outperformed Associate (ADN) degree nurses in all nursing skill areas, but associate degree nurses demonstrated minimal differences in performing medication administration and psychomotor skills. Nursing leaders expected the new nurses to be more proficient in hands-on skills and new nurses expressed concerns of nursing high acuity patients at an early period of their professional life. |
