Newly graduated nurses’ perceptions of a final clinical practicum facilitating transition: A qualitative descriptive study

Background: The transition from nursing student to registered nurse is known to be difficult. However, the experiences gained from clinical practicums help graduating nursing students to prepare for practice and can influence the intensity of the transition process. Nevertheless, little is known about how the upcoming transition process can be best facilitated by a final clinical practicum. Aim: To describe newly graduated nurses’ perceptions of a final clinical practicum that can facilitate the transition from nursing student to registered nurse. Methodology: Taking a qualitative descriptive approach, the participants in the study were newly graduated registered nurses (n = 20) from nine Finnish universities of applied sciences. Semi-structured, individual interviews were conducted to examine what elements of the final clinical practicum influenced their transition experiences. The Framework method was used to analyse the content of the data. Findings: Three main types of benefit were identified in relation to how well the final clinical practicum facilitates the transition to registered nurse: (1) the possibility to prepare for the transition, (2) resources for support and (3) quality of the final clinical practicum. Conclusion: A final clinical practicum can provide valuable opportunities for graduating nursing students to have a more positive and beneficial transition experience. However, more attention should be paid to the design and implementation of final clinical practicums to ensure adequate educational and professional support for the transition.