Prepared for practice? Exploring the experiences of newly qualified Project 2000 Child Branch staff nurses

Abstract

The passage from student to staff nurse is identified by the UKCC as being a major transition (UKCC, 1993). This small, qualitative study (n=6) was designed to explore the experience of being a newly qualified staff nurse following Project 2000 Child Branch education. Participants were also asked to reflect on Project 2000 as preparation for nursing practice. The overall experience of participants was reported as positive. Challenges and stresses had been encountered, however, all staff describing initial feelings of fear, the impact of their new responsibilities, and areas where they felt they lacked adequate experience. Comments were made concerning Project 2000 in relation to clinical preparation and experience, course content and structure, and the emphasis given to the Common Foundation Programme. They felt that they had moved successfully through the transition experience because of the degree of support they had received, because they were prepared to ask questions and because they had the ability to learn quickly. All members felt that the Project 2000 programme prepared them well for practice.