The Transition From Rookie to Genuine Nurse: Narratives From Swedish Nurses 1 Year After Graduation

This article describes nurses' experiences during their first year after graduation, based on the qualitative content analysis of eight interviews. The results show that the nurses experienced a transition from "being a rookie," including being accepted as a member of the team and respected as a colleague, to "becoming a genuine nurse," including the feeling of being able to shoulder responsibility, prioritize tasks, and convey confidence to patients. This transition seems to occur regardless of support, and it is important to be aware of nurses' level of maturity and to adjust the degree of responsibility given to them because they may not be comfortable revealing their limitations to others. J Contin Educ Nurs 2010;41(4):186-192.