Abstract: Aims to understand influences on new graduate nurses' confidence in their nursing practice. Confirms the value of self-confidence in newly-qualified nurses commencing practice. Utilises Appreciative Inquiry methodology to analyse the dialogue of nine new graduate nurses who share their stories of practice. Highlights five themes from their accounts. Identifies influences on the nurses' confidence, and the reflective practice pervading their nursing practice.

Abstract: The transition from student to registered nurse is a challenging and often stressful time in a nurse's career. This thesis is a case study research project that explores the graduate nurses' perceptions of preceptorship as a strategy to support this transition at Lakes District Health Board (DHB). As a provider of graduate nurse programmes since 1995, Lakes DHB has provided preceptorship for the nurse in the initial period of clinical practice. Annual evaluation by questionnaire identified that this has been applied in a range of ways in different clinical settings with varying degrees of effectiveness. Further inquiry into graduate nurses' perceptions of the preceptored experience during the first twelve weeks of practice within Lakes DHB forms the basis of this research project. The intention is to utilise this insight to further inform the development of preceptor education programmes and application of the preceptor role in the practice setting. Using the case study research method, data has been collected from fourteen participants using semi-structured interviews, focus groups and secondary data from the previous year's questionnaire undertaken by preceptors and graduate nurses. Thematic analysis of the data has resulted in two categories, each with three associated themes. The first category relates to functional factors in the way the preceptorship role is applied. This explores the role of the Clinical Nurse Educator (CNE), organisation within the unit and the teaching of clinical skills. The second category relates to psychosocial considerations and includes the graduate's sense of being scared and advocacy of the preceptor, socialisation and team support, and the preceptor's own experience as a registered nurse. Recommendations from the research include the allocation of a dedicated preceptor selected with consideration for relational ability; complementary rostering and workload allocation to ensure that the preceptor and graduate nurse work together; early notification when preceptor arrangements break down; implementation of a clinical coaching plan; and strengthening the CNE's role as a leader facilitating and supporting preceptorship in the units. Opportunities for further research that arise from the study include the perceptions of the preceptors and the nursing leadership in clinical areas. Structuring the application of preceptorship, to ensure that all of these aspects are woven throughout the graduate nurse's transition results in Korowai Aroha, a cloak of covering for a supported transition that facilitates the development of practice.

Abstract: Chronic stress and 'burnout' have been extensively researched in nursing populations, but very little is known about the impact of specific acutely stressful or significant events. A novice nurse's first encounter with patient death may pose considerable cognitive, emotional and clinical challenges. Using a mixed methods design, this study explored the clinical circumstances, impact and challenges and rewards of nurses' early experiences with patient death.

Abstract: New graduate nurses, particularly in the first year of clinical practice, face challenges with making clinical decisions about patient care. A review of the literature revealed no studies that reported using fundamental qualitative descriptive methodology to investigate new graduate nurses' clinical decision making. Aspects of decision making by new graduates have been studied using observational and interview methods, the findings from which have been interpreted using various theoretical decision making models. There has been little research outside of the context of critical care or intensive care units, but anecdotal reports in 2006 from the New Zealand Nursing Entry to Practice Programme (NetP) coordinators network suggest that new graduates are seldom employed in critical care or intensive care units in New Zealand. Nursing educators involved in undergraduate nurse training and NetP programmes need to understand how new graduates perceive, experience and manage decision making in clinical practice, in order to assist them to develop and refine those skills. There is a need for studies utilising fundamental qualitative descriptive methodology in order to explore the experiences of new graduates' decision making in clinical practice. The author notes that the topic is particularly relevant in light of the introduction of the national NetP programmes framework in New Zealand, and to her role as a NetP programme coordinator. This dissertation examines the relevant literature about decision making by new graduates and the research methods that were used, and concludes that fundamental qualitative descriptive method is a highly appropriate method by which to study new graduates' decision making.

Abstract: Use of health assessment skills is undeniably part of everyday nursing practice, guiding nursing decisions and a part of facilitating patient outcomes. Undergraduate nursing education in New Zealand includes the use of health assessment skills within the context of nursing practice. The registered nurse working in their first year of practice is required to use effective assessment skills to identify potential risks to a patient's health, while learning to adjust to the many other demands of practice, but little research has explored these experiences. The purpose of this research study was to describe the experience of using health assessment skills within the first year of practice as a registered nurse. Using a qualitative descriptive method, informed by phenomenology, interviews were conducted with six newly graduated registered nurses working within a New Zealand setting. Findings of this study revealed that graduates endeavour to incorporate the skills of health assessment taught at undergraduate level into their practice. Six main themes of health assessment philosophy; tuning in; mobilising health assessment skills; recognition; anxiety; and identification and facilitation of outcomes can be aligned with Benner's (1984) model of skill acquisition. The author suggests that these research findings are useful to inform nursing education, clinical practice and further research. An awareness of these graduate experiences provides opportunities for nurses in both clinical practice and education to facilitate and support graduate nurses' of health assessment within their nursing practice.

Abstract: The researchers conducted a study to compare self-reported changes in both frequency and quality of performance of nursing behaviours in a cohort of recently graduated nurses undertaking a one year entry to practice programme. Thirty-three nurses were surveyed, seven weeks after beginning the programme and again seven months later, using a modified version of Schwirian's (1978) Six-Dimension Scale of Nursing Performance (6-DSNP). Over the study period participants reported significant increases in frequency of performance for the domains of leadership, critical care, teaching/collaboration, and planning/evaluation. Significant increases in the quality of nurse behaviours in the domains of critical care, planning/evaluation and interpersonal relations/communication were also reported. The modified Schwirian 6-DSNP was found to be a useful instrument for measuring nurses' self reporting of performance during periods of transition.

Abstract: This report is an evaluation of the academic journey undertaken by a group of newly graduated nurses who were sponsored by a New Zealand district health board to work in a variety of primary health care nursing settings. The impetus for this pilot employment option was the Ministry of Health's focus on primary health care nursing and workforce development for this sector and the Expert Advisory Committee for primary health care nursing's recommendations to district health boards regarding employment of graduate nurses and support for them to engage in post graduate study. Evaluation participants were primarily the graduate nurses who were interviewed at the end of their first year of practice which was following programme completion then again nine to ten months later. Findings include the nurses reflections on what supported them and what acted to impede as barriers to their learning success and practice development. The report concludes with five recommendations that can be used to ensure that the travels of future newly graduated nurses taking this pathway are supported, safe and successful.