MULTI-STAKEHOLDER PERCEPTIONS OF YOUNG PROFESSIONALS' INTEGRATION DURING ROLE TRANSITION

Abstract

Context: The transition to autonomous clinical practice for early professionals (EPs) has been found to be a stressful time but no studies with multiple stakeholder groups have been completed. Objective: Examine the perceptions of EPs' integration during role transition from multiple stakeholder groups. Design: Qualitative study. Setting: Online interviews. Participants: 17 EPs in the first 2 years of their first job post-certification (9 females, 8 males, age=26±5 years, experience=9.5±5 months), 16 supervisors and mentors of EPs (6 females, 10 males, age=52±11 years), and 10 faculty members and 8 preceptors (11 females, 7 males, age=43±10 years). Data Collection and Analysis: Participants completed semistructured interviews using a validated interview guide based on the current literature. We analyzed data using consensual qualitative research principles. Multiple analyst triangulation (n=3), member checking, and peer review served as trustworthiness strategies. Results: We identified 4 themes that defined the integration of EPs during role transition. Integration of EPs was facilitated through role inductance and mentoring. EPs struggle finding balance to avoid burnout as they are new to the profession and feel obligated to exceed expectations from a coverage standpoint rather than focusing on the quality of care delivered. Finally, stakeholders suggested a timeline by which EPs become fully integrated into autonomous professional practice and understand all aspects of their role that typically takes anywhere from 1 to 3 years. Conclusions: EPs benefited from appropriate graded autonomy during clinical education to develop their clinical reasoning skills, confidence, and mentoring network with past preceptors. Ongoing personal and professional support is needed during the initial few years to ease EPs' role inductance while gaining more experience and establishing their clinician identity. Expectations for EPs should be reasonable to allow for the provision of quality care, adequate work-life balance, and integration into the profession without guilt.