Evaluating Aboriginal New Nurse Graduates' Transition to Practice
Nursing graduates are faced with many challenges as they enter the workforce. These stressful experiences can be intensified for new graduate nurses who identify as an ethnic minority.
Drs. Noelle Rohatinsky and Heather Exner-Pirot from the College of Nursing along with partners from the Aboriginal Nurses Association of Canada and the Saskatchewan Provincial Mentorship Initiative are set to evaluate new Aboriginal nursing graduates and their transition into the workforce.
For new Aboriginal nursing graduates, some experiences during the transition can be stressful and when compounded with structural barriers, a result may be strained relations and lack of integration into the work environment, ultimately leading to nurse turnover. The manner in which nursing graduates are supported in the workplace during this transition period affects their expectations, job satisfaction and retention.
“Many Aboriginal registered nurses work in their home communities after graduation and often, the retention of nurses within these communities is a concern,” said Noelle Rohatinsky. “As newly graduated registered nurses enter the workforce, many feel unprepared to begin their nursing career in demanding and remote environments.”
Mentorship programs have proven to assist new graduates by increasing confidence, competence, decision making, problem solving abilities and sense of belonging. Encouraging experienced Aboriginal registered nurses to support new nurse graduates during the transition allows for firsthand understanding of the unique challenges facing Aboriginal nurses during this transition period; it also allows for recognition and sharing of Indigenous knowledge.
“We feel Aboriginal nurse mentorships would be beneficial during the first year of employment,” said Heather Exner-Pirot, “and where possible, practicing Aboriginal nurses should offer mentorship to new Aboriginal nursing graduates. The objective of this study is to develop an Aboriginal mentorship program and evaluate mentorship effectiveness. The program will provide an opportunity for Aboriginal nursing graduates to feel supported as they transition to practice.”
The province of Saskatchewan has one of the highest rates of Aboriginal nurses and nursing students in Canada. Learn more about how the University of Saskatchewan College of Nursing supports its’ Aboriginal nursing students.