Nursing the Future: Building New Graduate Capacity (Part I).

Abstract

The transition from student to practitioner for newly graduated nurses is impacted by their physical, social, professional, and practice environments. COVID-19, global insecurity, institutional restructuring, and "acute on chronic" staffing shortages have increased the immediate burden experienced by emerging nurses. As detailed through the historical development of Duchscher's Stages of Transition Theory and Transition Shock Model, theorization of the transition process offers graduates, their educators, and workplace managers key areas of support opportunities for these new practitioners. In part 1 of a 2-part article series, this article explores how novel new graduate supports have been developed and delivered in partnership with nonprofit groups, government bodies, and employers across much of Canada. For nurse stakeholders, theorists, and beyond, support for the transition period of new nurses remains anecdotally, evidentially, and fiscally advisable, with an increasing urgency due to rising human capital pressures.