Managing support for newly qualified practitioners: lessons learnt from one health care region in the UK.

AIM: The study mapped the support provided for newly qualified practitioners across Kent, Surrey and Sussex.

BACKGROUND: Newly qualified practitioners require support and guidance to facilitate their transition from student to their new role as qualified practitioner. Professional bodies advocate that programmes be provided but the type and intensity of that support is variable.

METHODS: Telephone interviews were conducted with 24 people delivering support for newly qualified practitioners across professions in 13 different health care trusts. Documents (n = 41) related to support programmes were analysed. Two case study site visits and a knowledge exchange conference of 45 delegates completed the data collection. Data were analysed using the constant comparative method of analysis.

RESULTS: Support for newly qualified practitioners was largely idiosyncratic to profession and Trust. Evidence emerged of a conceptual shift from basic competency acquisition toward a corporate induction programme.

CONCLUSIONS: Interdisciplinary programmes can provide generic transitional support, but the newly qualified practitioners favoured skill acquisition to help them to be effective in their new role. Measuring the impact of newly qualified practitioner support on patient outcome and the practitioner is required.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: A career pathway for those who support newly qualified practitioners and one that includes specific preparation for the role is proposed.