Skip to main content

The perceptions of newly qualified nurses on the guidance by preceptors towards becoming experts in nursing

The transition from student to professional nurse can be daunting and pose a difficult transition period for newly qualified nurses. The reasons for this difficulty can be poor preparation, unsupervised work, and insufficient guidance. Warriodene Hansen, a newly appointed lecturer at the Western Cape College of Nursing Boland Overberg, recently published an article “The perceptions of newly qualified nurses on the guidance by preceptors towards becoming experts in nursing.”  The study provides valuable information that could help in the promotion of preceptorship.

Abstract

Background: The new role as professional nurse can be a difficult transition for the new qualified nurses. During this time, factors such as not being well prepared, working without supervision and a lack of guidance can be the result of a difficult transition.

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to assess the perceptions of newly qualified nurses on the guidance given by their preceptors towards becoming experts in practice at a Level II regional hospital in the Western Cape.

Method: A non-experimental quantitative descriptive design was followed. Collection of data was done by means of a questionnaire, designed by the researcher, using a cross-sectional research method. Non-probability sampling produced a sample of 162 nurses comprising registered nurses (48.2%), enrolled nurses (32.7%), and enrolled nursing auxiliaries (19.1%). Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical Analysis System (SAS), version 9.3.

Results: The results of the research study indicated that respondents had more positive experiences than negative ones. The respondents indicated that for the role and characteristics of the preceptor, expectations were met for knowledgeability, professionalism and contribution to teamwork. Furthermore, the results indicated that the respondents would recommend preceptorship.

Conclusion: Preceptorship is one of the major interventions available to support newly qualified nurses by easing the transition from student to practicing nurse and reducing the theory-practice gap. The findings emphasised the importance of ongoing support programmes for nurses after obtaining a new qualification or/and being a new nurse.



Cite as 
Hansen, W. 2021. The perceptions of newly qualified nurses on the guidance by
preceptors towards becoming experts in nursing. Curationis. 44(1), a2205.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/


Comments

  1. achievetestprep0114 February 2025 at 00:09

    Good

    LPN to RN bridge programs

    ReplyDelete
  2. I Bio Specimen10 August 2025 at 21:32

    Your explanation of serum and plasma sample applications is spot on. These specimens are indispensable for modern medical researchserum and plasma samples

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Announcement New Research: Mrs Verinia Titus Publishes in Curationis We are delighted to share an exciting academic achievement from within the WCCN community. Mrs Verinia Titus has published a new scholarly article in the peer‑reviewed journal Curationis, marking another important contribution to nursing research and professional knowledge in South Africa. (Titus, 2026) Her publication highlights the ongoing commitment of WCCN academics to research, evidence‑based practice, and the advancement of nursing education. Scholarly work such as this not only strengthens our institution’s academic profile but also enriches teaching, learning, and professional practice for both students and colleagues. 📄 Read the full article here . We encourage lecturers, students, and staff to explore the publication, incorporate it into discussions, and consider how Mrs Titus’s insights can inform clinical practice and nursing education. Her dedication to research serves as an inspiration to our academic c...
Post a Comment
Read more

Telling stories differently: engaging 21st century students through digital storytelling

Penny Gill and I were honoured to be part of a team that published a book Telling stories differently: engaging 21st-century students through digital storytelling(DST).  Published by Sun Media the book evolved as a collaboration between  Janet Condy, an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), and CPUT academics to capture their research projects using DST.  The purpose of the book is to share a collection of studies using DST as a pedagogical tool in CPUT.  The book was launched on Thursday 3 September 2015 at the International RASA and Pan African Literacy Conference in the Baxter Hall. The team included Daniela Gachago, Eunice Ivala, Agnes Chigona, Franci Cronje, Veronica Barnes, Rajendra Chetty, Subethra Pather, Chantyclaire Tiba, Ignatius Ticha, Anthea Adams, Ayesha Reiners, and Mandie Richards.  I was privileged to have Dr. Agnes Chigona as a co-author as she steered me throug...
4 comments
Read more

Dr Anso Truter writes a chapter

Dr. Truter has once again written a chapter in a book for Juta publisher s .   The latest edition of Sellers' Midwifery  has been revised and aligns with international and national public health strategies that aim to improve maternal and antenatal care as a sustainable development goal. Dr. Truter wrote chapter 48 which centres around the role of the midwife in reproductive health care and includes updated information on contraception and fertility planning.  Book Details Truter, A. 2018. Contraception and fertility planning. In Dippennaar, J. & da Serra, D. (eds). 2018. Sellers’ midwifery . 3rd ed. Cape Town: Juta. 728-752. Previously Dr. Truter wrote a chapter on reproductive health for Vlok's community health . 
Post a Comment
Read more