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Career development: graduate nurse views
Author(s) -
Cleary Michelle,
Horsfall Jan,
Muthulakshmi Paulpandi,
Happell Brenda,
Hunt Glenn E
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of clinical nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.94
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1365-2702
pISSN - 0962-1067
DOI - 10.1111/jocn.12080
Subject(s) - workforce , nursing , career development , specialty , job satisfaction , work (physics) , nurse education , medicine , health care , psychology , medical education , family medicine , political science , social psychology , mechanical engineering , law , engineering
Aims and objectives To explore recent S ingapore nursing graduates' experience of and views about their career development and progress. Background The recruitment and retention of an adequate number of registered nurses is a continuing workforce issue in S ingapore and other major cities. Design Survey of recent nursing graduates. Methods Recent nursing graduates from the B achelor programme ( n = 147) were sent an individual survey; a response rate of 54% was achieved. Results Findings show that nurses rated their self‐concept in a positive manner and were most satisfied ( moderately to very ) with helping patients and providing effective care, and the level of patient involvement. They were least satisfied ( moderately to only a little ) with prestige among the general medical community and the general public, hours of work, lifestyle factors and research opportunities. The following four factors were identified as significant impediments to career development; lack of support in the work place; perceived insufficient clinical career development opportunities; excessive work hours; and limited access to merit‐based places in further education. Conclusions Suggestions made to overcome perceived career development barriers are as follows: broad multifactorial healthcare system changes; decreased and more flexible working hours; and fairer access to further clinical and higher education. Relevance to clinical practice Results highlight the value clinical nurses place on having access to career development opportunities, merit‐based further education and work place supports. These factors also have the potential to influence patient care and impact on the retention of nurses in their present job and satisfaction with their nursing career.