A transition programme to enhance ICU new graduate nurses' professional identity and intention to remain employed: A pre‐ and postevaluation

AIMS: To investigate the effect of a transition programme including cognitive‐behaviour‐based preceptorship intervention on ICU new graduate nurses' (NGNs)' professional identity and their intention to remain employed. DESIGN: One‐arm pre‐ and post‐test design followed the TREND Statement. METHODS: NGNs' professional identity and intention to remain employed were measured at baseline (T1), postintervention (1 month, T2) and 6‐month follow‐up (T3). RESULTS: Fifty‐three NGNs completed the programme, and their professional identity score significantly increased postintervention [from 111.5 (SD = 16.72) at T1 to 114.2 (SD = 9.12) at T2, p < 0.05], but decreased at T3 [105.8 (SD = 9.44) compared with T1 and T2, p < 0.05]. There was no significant difference in ICU NGNs' intention of remain employed outcomes at three time points (p > 0.05). The transition programme was effective to improve ICU NGNs' professional identity immediately after the intervention, but the increment did not maintain at the 6‐month follow‐up.