Co-constructed competencies of facilitators supporting Newly Qualified Professional Nurses to meet the outcomes of a Person-centered Nurse Residency Programme

Abstract

Introduction: Newly Qualified Professional Nurses face reality shock when entering clinical practice for the first time as professionals during their remunerated community service year. Not receiving adequate support during the transition period has been identified as a main contributing factor of Newly Qualified Professional Nurses leaving the nursing profession soon after graduating. Internationally, standardised, context-specific nurse residency programmes, implemented under the guidance of competent, expert facilitators have proven to provide much needed support to Newly Qualified Professional Nurses. It is regarded as the “gold standard” in transition-to-practice programmes but no such programme exists in the South African context.

Aim: The aim of the study was to co-construct competencies of facilitators supporting Newly Qualified Professional Nurses to meet the outcomes of a Person-centered Nurse Residency Programme.

Research methodology: This study made use of a qualitative methodology with an interpretive descriptive approach, using multiple methods to collect- and analyse data. A constructivist worldview was held and a person-centered approach was infused throughout the study by applying principles of Collaboration, Inclusion and Participation. The study was conducted over two phases. In Phase 1, a needs assessment was conducted on different levels of stakeholders during a focus group meeting and by means of two self-administered qualitative open-ended questionnaires to establish their perceptions on the needs of Newly Qualified Professional Nurses for inclusion in the Person-centered Nurse Residency Programme. Thirty-four (34) Newly Qualified Professional Nurses and 17 senior professional nurses, clinical facilitators, educators and managers took part in Phase 1. In Phase 2, a workshop was conducted in which participatory data analysis took place to co-construct a context specific Person-centered Nurse Residency Programme for Newly Qualified Professional Nurses, which included the co-constructed competencies of facilitators required to effectively implement and provide support to these Newly Qualified Professional Nurses. Seventeen (17) Newly Qualified Professional Nurses, senior professional nurses, clinical facilitators, educators and managers took part in Phase 2.

Findings: The developed Person-centered Nurse Residency Programme comprised of six domains namely: outcomes; objectives, prerequisites of the senior professional nurse; foundational knowledge of the facilitator; person-centered learning environment and person-centered learning process. The four learning outcomes of the Newly Qualified Professional Nurses upon completion of the Person-centered Nurse Residency Programme were theory-practice integration; effective problem-solving skills; effective conflict management skills and effective management skills. The overall objectives of the Person-centered Nurse Residency Programme were identified as: professional socialisation, establishing a person-centered attitude- and a feeling of well-being. The remaining domains were dedicated to co-constructing the competencies of facilitators. A conceptual framework of the Person-centered Nurse Residency Programme was depicted as an analogy of a growing flower, underpinned by the philosophy of person-centeredness and the ultimate purpose of human flourishing for all.