The lived experiences of graduate nurses transitioning to professional practice during a pandemic

BACKGROUND: Graduate nurses face challenges during their transition to professional practice. Understanding these experiences during a pandemic has not been explored. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to describe the lived experiences of graduate nurses transitioning to practice during a pandemic. METHODS: Using a hermeneutic phenomenological approach, focus groups were conducted with fifteen nurses who were at three different stages of transition and participating in a 12-month Graduate Nurse Residency Program. FINDINGS: Seven themes emerged: 1) being new is overwhelming, even more so during COVID-19, 2) need to be flexible, 3) pandemic knowledge and practice disconnect, 4) communication barriers worsened with masks, 5) being a “COVID nurse,” 6) no self-care, and 7) gratitude: still glad to be a nurse. DISCUSSION: Findings emphasize the important focus on graduate nurse support and educational foundation for role transition into professional practice, especially during a pandemic. Participants expressed lack of preparedness for practice but remain excited about being a nurse.