Date of Award

4-1987

Degree Name

Doctor of Education

Department

Educational Leadership

First Advisor

Dr. Uldis Smidchens

Second Advisor

Dr. Carol Sheffer

Third Advisor

Dr. Shirley Bach

Abstract

Nurse educators and nursing service administrators have different expectations for the baccalaureate graduate nurse. The difference in expectations has made the transition from student to practitioner difficult for the new graduate.

The purpose of this study was to identify the ideal and real expectations regarding entry level performance as perceived by nurses who graduated in 1985 from 17 of 31 baccalaureate programs represented in the Consensus on Entry project. The ideal and real expectations of the graduates were compared to the nurse educators' and the nursing service administrators' results from the consensus on Entry project.

One hundred fifty-four baccalaureate graduates completed the Benner Proficiency Scale and the Six-Dimension Scale of Nurse Performance. The graduates' ideal expectations were compared to the graduates' real expectations. The graduates' ideal and real expectations were compared to the nurse educators' expectations. The graduates' ideal and real expectations were compared to the nursing service administrators' expectations.

It was found that baccalaureate graduates ideally would like to be more proficient in the performance of technical skills, critical care skills, interpersonal skills/communication, leadership skills, planning and evaluation, and teaching and collaboration skills than they really are at graduation.

On the ideal and real expectations of performance of baccalaureate graduates on the six dimensions of nursing practice tested, there were differences between the responses of graduates, nurse educators, and nursing service administrators. Additional studies are needed on programs that assist the transition of student nurses to practitioners, collaboration among nurses and other health care workers and how their collaboration affects patient outcomes, how nurses plan, make decisions, and evaluate care, and leadership in nursing.

Access Setting

Dissertation-Open Access

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