Preparing Novice Nurse Practitioners for the Workforce Transition

The purpose of this descriptive cross-sectional study was to describe the individual characteristics, role acquisition and job satisfaction of novice nurse practitioners (NPs), and identify the factors associated with their successful transition and retention in the first year of primary care practice.  A theory-guided model drawn from prior relevant research was used to guide this study.   A multi-instrument web-based questionnaire was sent electronically to new graduate NPs via participating CCNE accredited graduate nursing programs, through social media sites and snowballing.  Two hundred primary care NPs who had graduated from an accredited NP program within the previous 12-18 months and had been practicing in a primary care setting as a NP for 3-12 months participated in the study.  Measures included in the questionnaire were a researcher-developed demographic and background survey, along with six previously established Likert-type scales to identify factors related to individual characteristics, role acquisition and job satisfaction among novice NPs that influence retention.  Four open-ended questions were included at the end of the questionnaire to assess aspects of the workforce transition not otherwise captured.  

Preliminary findings of this study show that novice NPs do not feel well prepared for what they encountered in the workforce, citing a lack of knowledge in both clinical and professional skills.  Many desire more focus on role development in their educational programs as well as post-graduate training opportunities.  Mentorship and support networks were important factors in the successful transition of novice NPs.  These results may guide the development of NP curriculum and residency programs. The results may also provide insight to employers, NPs and their colleagues that may improve the novice NP transition to practice, thereby increasing their retention in the primary care setting.  This has implications for overall patient care, as continuity of care has been associated with better patient outcomes, especially in high-risk populations.