Graduate nurses' adjustment to initial employment: natural field work

Abstract

This study used natural field work methods in order to understand initial employment for new graduate nurses. The researcher participated in the first 3 to 4 months of the nurses' employment in general hospital settings. Background information related to the introduction of the comprehensive nursing courses in New Zealand is included, together with an overview of the research methodology. The five major themes which emerge from the study are presented and discussed, indicating that the rhetoric and practice of the school of nursing is different from the rhetoric and practice of nursing within general hospital settings. It is argued that management practices which support the ideals of the New Zealand comprehensive nursing courses and a total qualified nursing workforce have yet to occur. There are implications in this study for nursing education and nursing practice.