Document Type

Course Project

Publication Date

5-31-2023

Abstract

New-to-practice RNs experience anxiety during licensure preparation and orientation. Such anxiety is anticipated to linger for approximately 6 months as the RN transitions to practice and adapts to professional nursing. Many new-to-practice RNs report feelings of anxiety. Their anxiety can negatively affect the quality and safety of nursing care and increase nurse turnover. Unfortunately, the literature on anxiety in traditional post-licensure in new-to-practice RNs in clinical practice lacks information on non-traditional post-licensure new-to-practice RNs' experiences when starting professional practice roles in health care settings. This descriptive comparative study compares differences in anxiety in new-to-practice RNs of traditional and non-traditional Bachelor of Science Nursing (BSN) programs. Anxiety levels could compromise client safety and quality nursing care and increase nurse turnover. The study recruited a convenience sample (N = 72) of new-to-practice RNs. The new-to-practice RNs were currently employed in nursing positions in hospitals for less than 1 year of nursing practice. The Spielberger State form of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory was administered via Qualtrics. The anxiety of the total sample was moderately high. The hypothesis tested that anxiety scores differed when comparing new-to-practice RNs that graduated from a traditional program schedule (n = 32) versus a non-traditional schedule (n = 35) in one university’s BSN program was not supported. However, the highest-ranked items were, I am tense, I feel strained, I am presently worrying over possible misfortunes. I feel frightened. I feel nervous, I am jittery, I feel indecisive, I am worried, and I feel confused. These items’ scores were consistent for both the traditional and non-traditional new-to-practice RNs.

Language

English

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