Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41255142›Full record

ArticleNursing open2025

Exploring Newly Qualified Nurses' Perception of Preparedness for Clinical Practice: A Descriptive Qualitative Study.

Daniel Opotamutale Ashipala, Phellep Ndara Muhora

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nursing open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors.

Daniel Opotamutale AshipalaDepartment of General Nursing Science, School of Nursing and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Namibia (UNAM), Rundu, Namibia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8913-056X
Phellep Ndara MuhoraDepartment of General Nursing Science, School of Nursing and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Namibia (UNAM), Rundu, Namibia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6311-6065

Funding

University of Namibia
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimThe aim of this study was to examine the perceived preparedness of newly qualified nurses for clinical practice, with a focus on those factors that contribute to any lack of preparedness. Being prepared for practice is essential for achieving professional goals and reducing unwanted patient and organisational outcomes. The preparedness of newly qualified nurses to practice independently is a topic of debate; however, the factors that cause a lack of preparedness have not been explored thoroughly.

designThis exploratory study utilised a descriptive and contextual design and thematic analysis.

methodsThe researcher utilised a qualitative methodology for their research. The population of the study was 16 newly qualified nurses, who were chosen through convenience sampling. This study was conducted from August to October 2020 at four campuses that offered a 4-year Bachelor of Nursing Science (Clinical) (BNSc) Honours Degree. Data were gathered via semi-structured interviews until the point at which data saturation was reached. Following this, thematic analysis was undertaken.

resultsThe analysis of the data led to the development of four themes, that is, student confidence and competence; lack of confidence and competence; resource-related challenges and suggested changes to improve perceived challenges.

conclusionThis study's findings have showed that newly qualified nurses experienced some contextual challenges during their four-year training in fulfilment of their professional roles; they appeared well-prepared for their clinical roles. Their contextual challenges were as a result of insufficient knowledge, a lack of clinical exposure to some departments, a theory-practice gap, and insufficient placement time for clinical practice. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: The findings of this study can be used to develop targeted interventions and ongoing strategies that would inform clinical practice and future curricula development and facilitate improvement of clinical supervision and mentorship.

Indexed as

Clinical CompetenceNursesPerceptionAdultAttitude of Health PersonnelEducation, Nursing, BaccalaureateFemaleHumansInterviews as TopicMaleQualitative Researchclinical practicefulfilmentperceptionspreparednessprofessional goalprofessional role

Identifiers

PMID41255142
PMCPMC12627923

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.