Readiness to Practice in Health Care: An Empirical Definition Based on a Content Analysis of the Literature

Abstract

Background: Health care services require practitioners to be ready to practice (R2P), but evidence shows new graduates vary in R2P. Unfortunately, there is a lack of clarity about what R2P entails. Method: A content analysis of the empirical literature ( Gaur & Kumar, 2018 ) was used to quantify the elements and higher-order categories of R2P. Results: Across 108 articles, professional development activities, communication, previous experience, confidence, clinical skills, patient-centered care, integration of knowledge, teamwork, competency, management, and interpersonal skills were used to define R2P at least 25% of the time. We identified seven domains of R2P: clinical experience, social experiences, professional development experiences, personal attributes, cognitive aspects, onboarding experiences, and educational experiences. Conclusion: Our study empirically defined what is associated with health professionals who were perceived as or perceived themselves as R2P in health care. Our results inform training, preparation, research, and the transition from medical training to the workplace. [ J Contin Educ Nurs. 2023;54(7):302–312.]