New Nurses’ Work Adaptation Experience

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the work adaptation experiences of new nurses who underwent stress while transitioning into the workforce.Methods: In-depth semi-structured group and individual interviews were conducted with 18 nurses working at a general hospital from December 2018 to February 2019. Colaizzi’s phenomenological approach was followed for the data analysis.Results: Four clusters of themes were drawn from meaningful data regarding the nurses’ adaptation experience: “Weakened mind and body”, “Reaching one’s mental and physical limits”, “Fighting back against work stress”, and “Assuming the role of a nurse”. The new nurses were the most stressed during the three to six months following independence from the preceptor, and after seven months on the job, they experienced some resolution by adapting to human relationships with their colleagues.Conclusions: This study suggests a broad and longer perspective to which new nurses need to adapt, both at work and in human relationships, to overcome their difficulties.