{"title":"A Hermeneutic Qualitative Study of the Orientation Experiences of Early Career Nurses.","authors":"Kerrin Hampton","doi":"10.3928/00220124-20260407-01","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>With national nursing turnover peaking, this study was conducted to explore the orientation experiences of early career nurses.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A hermeneutic phenomenological approach was used, with web-based interviews that were recorded, transcribed, and thematically analyzed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Emerging themes included seeking comprehensive information, the pivotal role of preceptors, emotional complexity, loss or absence, reaffirming purpose, and positive progress. Outliers included \"the preceptor turned her back,\" \"thrown to the wolves,\" and \"the unicorn.\"</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Participants described orientation experiences and remained in their initial roles. However, reality and transition shock persist. Consistent support from preceptors, educators, and leaders remains essential for successful transition.</p>","PeriodicalId":49295,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing","volume":" ","pages":"1-6"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4000,"publicationDate":"2026-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.3928/00220124-20260407-01","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"NURSING","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: With national nursing turnover peaking, this study was conducted to explore the orientation experiences of early career nurses.
Method: A hermeneutic phenomenological approach was used, with web-based interviews that were recorded, transcribed, and thematically analyzed.
Results: Emerging themes included seeking comprehensive information, the pivotal role of preceptors, emotional complexity, loss or absence, reaffirming purpose, and positive progress. Outliers included "the preceptor turned her back," "thrown to the wolves," and "the unicorn."
Conclusion: Participants described orientation experiences and remained in their initial roles. However, reality and transition shock persist. Consistent support from preceptors, educators, and leaders remains essential for successful transition.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing is a monthly peer-reviewed journal publishing original articles on continuing nursing education that are directed toward continuing education and staff development professionals, nurse administrators, and nurse educators in all health care settings, for over 50 years.