Patient Safety Incidents Experienced by Novice Nurses During Transition to Practice: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study.

Abstract

Aim: Novice nurses in their first year of practice are vulnerable to patient safety incidents due to limited clinical experience and transition shock. This study aimed to explore novice nurses' experiences regarding patient safety incidents, their underlying causes, and their subsequent impacts.

Design: A descriptive phenomenological qualitative design.

Methods: Conducted between February 2024 and June 2025, this study involved online and face-to-face interviews with 18 novice nurses in Türkiye with up to 1 year of experience. Data were analysed using Colaizzi's descriptive phenomenological method.

Results: Analysis yielded three main themes and eight subthemes: (1) patient safety incidents (medication errors, patient identification errors, missed nursing care); (2) experiencing threats to patient safety (individual unpreparedness for independent care, team-level communication gaps and unsupportive interactions, struggling with organizational workload and staffing constraints, silence and non-reporting in clinical culture); and (3) impact of patient safety incidents (negative emotions, lessons learned).

Conclusion: Novice nurses face professionally and organizationally challenging patient safety incidents during transition. Strengthening structured orientation, preceptorship, non-punitive reporting systems, and supportive leadership is essential to foster safer clinical environments.

Reporting method: Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative studies (COREQ).

Patient or public contribution: No patient or public contribution.

Implications for the profession and/or patient care: Findings emphasize the critical need for structured orientation, adequate staffing, and formal preceptorship during professional transition. Establishing a non-punitive reporting culture enables learning from near-misses, while supportive leadership helps novice nurses manage transition challenges and ensure safer patient care.