Professional development among newly graduated registered nurses working in acute care hospital settings: A qualitative explorative study

AIM: To explore newly graduated registered nurses' perceptions of their work situation and management of nursing care in complex patient situations after 18 months of work experience. BACKGROUND: Newly graduated registered nurses working in acute care hospital settings play a critical role in providing safe nursing care. METHODS: An explorative qualitative design, with four focus group interviews with 14 newly graduated registered nurses working in acute care hospital settings. RESULTS: One theme emerged: ‘Clarity and security in one's own nursing role despite facing challenges that hinder professional development’ and three categories: ‘Independency due to one's own efforts and experience’, ‘Well‐functioning teamwork’ and ‘Challenges in the work situation’. CONCLUSION: After 18 months in the profession, the nurses were considered to be advanced beginners; at the same time, the most experienced nurses on their respective wards. They found it challenging and need to further develop competences concerning managing and organizing the nursing care of several complex patient situations or new patient groups, as well as supervising novice registered nurses and nursing students. IMPLICATION FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Powerful and urgent action is needed to be taken by national healthcare policymakers as well a hospital and nurse managers to develop long‐term strategies to improve working conditions for newly registered graduated nurses.