This Article Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 1043454208323913v1 26/1/29    most recent References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Linder, L. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Linder, L. Pubmed/NCBI databases Medline Plus Health Information Children's Health Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Experiences of Pediatric Oncology Nurses: The First Year of Hire

College of Nursing, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, lauri.linder{at}nurs.utah.edu

As the number of specialty pediatric oncology units increases, many units are hiring increasing numbers of newly graduated registered nurses. Intense specialty training and an emotionally demanding work environment place new nurses at risk for job frustration and early job resignation. The purpose of this study is to investigate experiences of pediatric oncology nurses during their first year of hire using a phenomenological approach. Participants were 6 nurses employed on an inpatient pediatric oncology unit in a tertiary care center located in the Intermountain West. A purposive sampling approach was used. Data were collected via semistructured interviews, which were analyzed for specific statements and themes providing description and meaning to nurses' experiences. Eleven themes in the categories of professional role development, a unique practice, and personal reflection were identified. Practice implications include supporting new nurses beyond the acquisition of skills and knowledge and including opportunities for personal reflection as part of the orientation experience. Successful role development is essential to ensure the retention of new pediatric oncology nurses as well as their future achievements within the subspecialty.

Key Words: Key words: phenomenology • pediatric oncology nursing • new graduates • role development • nurse retention

This version was published on January 1, 2009

Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing, Vol. 26, No. 1, 29-40 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/1043454208323913


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?