The Advocacy Process of New Graduate Nurses in Practice: a Grounded Theory Study

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: New graduated nurses are faced with many problems during their period of transition into the practice. which makes them need to advocacy. Since the advocacy is process, interactive, social, and culturally dependent concept. Despite the studies conducted, there is still a knowledge gap on the subject, then the aim of this study was to explore the advocacy process of new graduate nurses in practice. Method: This study was conducted through a qualitative approach and the Strauss and Corbin grounded theory (2008) method between 2014-2016. The participants in this study were experience nurses, working in medical, surgical, intencive care units, emergency wards of Tabriz and Hamadan hospitals. Selection of participants was initiated using purposeful sampling and continued by theoretical sampling until theoretical saturation was achieved. The main data collecting tool were unstructured interviews and observation. A total of 28 interviews were performed with 23 participants. Data were analyzed based on Corbin and Strauss (2008) method and which were organized by MAXQDA-10 software. Results: Lack of competencey for independent clinical practice, Defects in clinical role playing in new graduated nurses, uncoordinated education and health system, organizational climate, personal characteristics were five main concepts of contextual factors that influences on advocacy process new graduated nurses, not fit expetations of experienced nurses with brought of new graduated nurses was the participant's main concern. Accompany and get along until acquaired independence and lateral and hierarchical violence, the main strategies that experienced nurses use for meet of expectations, the outcomes of these strategiies were development and frustration, Trying to align with your expectations, was the core category that connected categories' to each other. Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that new graduated nurses can not to meet expectation of experienced nurses. Therefore, shoud be that health organizations to develop the abilities of experience and new graduated nurses with supportive programs and apropriate management. The identifying of this process, influencing factors and its outcome will be helpful to problem diagnosis and strategies to solution them.