Role transition of newly graduated nurses from nursing students to registered nurses: A qualitative systematic review

The transition experience of newly graduated registered nurses is highly stressful and associated with high attrition rates. This qualitative systematic review aims to consolidate the available evidence on the experiences of newly graduated registered nurses' role transition from nursing students to registered nurses. English language research published between 2010 and 2022 was searched using PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, Embase, PsycInfo and ProQuest Dissertations and Thesis databases. Data were extracted using a data extraction form and appraised using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) tool for published studies or the Authority, Accuracy, Coverage, Objectivity, Date, Significance checklist for unpublished studies or grey literature, respectively. The review included 25 studies and the meta-synthesis identified four themes: (a) Knowledge deficit, (b) Overwhelming clinical practise, (c) Importance of workplace support, and (d) Meaning of “being a nurse”. Newly graduated registered nurses experienced facing knowledge deficits in the clinical setting and felt overwhelmed with work, especially for newly graduated registered nurses during the Covid-19 pandemic. Support from colleagues was invaluable, and they wished for better support through standardised transition programs. Despite nursing being mentally and physically exhausting, many newly graduated registered nurses regarded their profession satisfying and meaningful, however some eventually resigned. Understanding the transition experiences of newly graduated registered nurses can provide valuable insights on how to facilitate their transition and in turn decrease attrition rates, and ensure safe care for the patients and that public healthcare needs are met. •Most NGRNs, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, experienced fear from knowledge deficits.•Lack of unit resources and high workload made NGRNs believe their practice environment was unsafe.•Bullying was commonplace among NGRNs, whereby ward culture and ethnicity differences can play a role.•Different generational needs of NGRNs need to be taken into consideration for retaining nurses in future research.•Reality-based education is needed to better prepare NGRNs in the future.