Le développement de l’autonomie professionnelle d’infirmières nouvellement diplômées sur une unité de soins intensifs
The barriers in transition-to-practice for newly graduated nurses on intensive care units has been well documented. Independent professional practice is, in particular, one of the barriers shared by newly graduated nurses integrating an intensive care unit. This research aims to explore the perceptions of newly graduated nurses and preceptors regarding the professional autonomy development of the newly graduated nurses in a nursing residency program on intensive care units. Nursing residency programs were developed in order to facilitate transition-to-practice of newly graduated nurses. In these programs, the evaluation that assesses clinical competence development can be primarily based on the newly graduated nurse’s autonomy. However, few studies focus on the development of professional autonomy of newly graduated nurses. As study framework, a model that includes Benner's stages of clinical competence (1982), Tardif's competency assessment approach (2006) and a definition of professional autonomy as suggested by Létourneau (2017) is proposed. By conducting a descriptive exploratory study, semi-structured individual interviews collected the data from newly graduated nurses (n=6), while preceptors (n= 4) shared their perceptions during focus groups. Content analysis by Van der Maren (1996) was used for data analysis. The results include the barriers encountered in the early career of the newly graduated nurses in critical care setting, a definition of professional autonomy and the influences of the newly graduated nurses’ professional autonomy development. The influences of the newly graduated nurses’ professional autonomy development and the definition of professional autonomy have been linked in a concept map. Considering these findings, implications for practice, research, education and management in nursing were made.
newly graduated nurses professional autonomy development professional transition-to-practice intensive care unit preceptors