Novice nurses in the emergency department: the lived experience

Abstract

In order to overcome current staff shortages and a lack of available experienced nurses, novice nurses are now being hired in emergency departments (EDs). The ED environment can present challenges for the novice nurse and there is very little known about the experience of novice nurses in the ED. The purpose of this study is to explore the experiences of novice nurses employed in the ED. van Manen's (1997) method of phenomenology was used to guide this study and data collection entailed semi-structured interviews with four novice nurses. Four themes were identified from the interviews: 1) Doubting oneself as an ED nurse, 2) Importance of a supportive orientation, 3) Learning through practice, and 4) Recognizing the value of a positive and supportive work environment. The findings from this study provide insight into the experiences of novice nurses in the ED and highlight the importance of providing support to novice nurses through orientation programs, hands on learning opportunities, and ensuring the availability of experienced and supportive nurse colleagues.