New Registered Nurse Transition to the Workforce and Intention to Leave: Testing a Theoretical Model

Background The transition of new nurses into practice has been identified as challenging, and new nurses report having intentions to leave (ITL) jobs. Concerns of ITL are worrisome for the nursing profession, especially when faced with the need to replace an aging nursing workforce and to maintain quality patient care. Purpose Guided by components of Meleis et al.’s mid-range transition theory, the purpose of this study was to test a theoretical model linking transition and ITL, as well as the personal, community and societal conditions of transition. Methods A predictive, non-experimental design using cross-sectional data was employed. Ontario registered nurses, who had graduated within two years, were randomly selected to complete a mailed questionnaire in 2015 ( N = 217). Structural equation modeling was undertaken to test the model. Results The new nurses reported a relatively positive transition; yet, 44% of the respondents indicated leaving their first job, and 1% departed the nursing profession. A revised model of the constructs showed a more adequate fit with the data, but overall, the hypothesized model was not supported and methodological validity of tools questioned. From the modeling, lower role stress led to a positive transition. Conclusions Given organizational and governmental investments in orientation and transition programs, challenges in measuring transition and ITL requires additional research. Our findings highlight the value of organizations supporting new nurses by reducing role stress through reasonable workloads and expectations, which in turn contributes to a positive transition.