Newly licensed nurses’ transition during the pandemic after participating in nurse apprentice program

Background

Nurse apprentice/externship programs, some including students obtaining an apprentice license before graduation, prepare students to transition to practice. Some United States regions authorised new apprentice programs during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

Aim

We aimed to compare how newly licensed registered nurses (RNs) who participated or did not participate in an apprentice program during the pandemic perceived the transition to practice.

Methods

We compared participants with (n = 14) and without (n = 18) apprentice training by administering surveys at 2, 6, and 12 months post RN employment. Participants completed the Casey-Fink Graduate Nurse Experience Survey (CFGNES) and Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI). We used Cronbach’s alpha to assess survey domain internal consistency and compared CFGNES scores between cohorts using a linear regression model.

Findings

The nurse apprentice and standard training cohorts had mean composite CFGNES scores of 76.8 (SD = 7.52) vs. 71.9 (SD = 6.68), p < 0.01; higher scores suggested positive values for workplace support, stress, communication/leadership, and professional satisfaction. Participant OLBI scores indicated burnout among both cohorts.

Discussion

The recipients of the nurse apprentice program perceived transitioning into RN roles more favourably than those without this experience, implying newly licensed RNs benefit from nurse apprentice experiences. Job/professional satisfaction and workplace integration may play a role in promoting the transition to practice.

Conclusion

Nurse apprentice programs may promote satisfaction and acclimatisation among newly licensed RNs, even during pandemic work conditions. Healthcare leaders are encouraged to advocate for nurse apprentice programs, including pathways for apprentice licensure and program implementation.