The Influence of Preceptorship and Onboarding Orientation Program on Competence and Job Satisfaction of Newly Graduated Nurses
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54536/ijphn.v2i2.7848Keywords:
Clinical Competence, Job Satisfaction, Newly Graduated Nurses, Nurse Retention, Onboarding Orientation, Preceptorship, Transition ProgramsAbstract
This research examines the relationship between preceptorship and onboarding orientation programs and clinical competence and job satisfaction in newly graduated nurses in the process of starting professional practice. Nursing transition programs are required to address the high turnover rates, work-related stress, and transition shock associated with the academic-clinical transition. It used a quantitative, descriptive and correlational research design where a sample of 100 newly graduated nurses in their first year of practice in a tertiary healthcare setting was used. Clinical competency development and nursing job satisfaction were measured through longitudinal; three-time point data collection using validated instruments. The results showed that both clinical competence and job satisfaction showed great improvement during the period. Duration of the program and program structure correlated positively with competence, with structured preceptorship coming out as the best predictor of improved clinical performance. Nonetheless, no considerable correlation was found between the feature of a program and job satisfaction, which refers to the role of other factors, including working environment, organizational support, and workload management. Moreover, there were no noteworthy variations in clinical departments and education levels. The paper highlights the significance of acutely structured onboarding policies, mentoring, and clinical training systems in the formulation of competence in newly graduated nurses. To enhance job satisfaction, nurse retention, and the overall quality of patient care, healthcare organizations must focus on evidence-based approaches to nurse transition and on the larger organizational factors.
References
Abdelaliem, S. M. F., Alsleem, D. K., Aladdad, S. K., Alqahtani, A. S., Alenazi, R. K., Alotaibi, M. G., Oqailan, H. K., & Almarshad, L. B. (2025). The relationship between practical skills confidence and readiness for transition to practice among nursing internship students: Exploring the mediating role of preceptorship. Nurse education today, 147, 106587. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2025.106587
Aldosari, N., Pryjmachuk, S., & Cooke, H. (2020). Newly qualified nurses’ transition from learning to doing: A scoping review. International journal of nursing studies, 113, 103792. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2020.103792
Alghamdi, M. S., & Baker, G. (2020). Identifying the Experiences of New Graduate Nurses during the Transition Period to Practice as A Professional Nurses. Journal of clinical nursing. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.15344
Alsalamah, Y., Alsalamah, T., Albagawi, B. S., Alslamah, T., Tassi, A. E., & Fawaz, M. (2023). Impact of Nurse Residency Program Completion on Work Readiness and Clinical Competency of Saudi Graduate Nurses Transitioning into Professional Practice. International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijans.2023.100555
Alsalamah, Y., Hosis, K. A., Harbi, A. A., Itani, M., Tassi, A. E., & Fawaz, M. (2022). Student to nurse transition and the nurse residency program: A qualitative study of new graduate perceptions. Journal of professional nursing : official journal of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 42, 195–200. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2022.07.007
Çamveren, H., Kocaman, G., & Vatan, F. (2022). The effects of a preceptorship program on newcomer nurses’ turnover intention, commitment and job satisfaction: Quasi-experimental study. Nurse education in practice, 63, 103358. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2022.103358
Charette, M., McKenna, L., McGillion, A., & Burke, S. (2022). Effectiveness of transition programs on new graduate nurses’ clinical competence, job satisfaction and perceptions of support: A mixed-methods study. Journal of clinical nursing. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.16317
Charette, M., Robitaille, A., Bouchard, J., Quesnel, É., Ledoux, I., & Caty, M.-È. (2025). “How Can We Do Better?”: A Case Study of a Pre-Implementation Analysis of a Residency Program for New Graduate Nurses in Canada. The Canadian Journal of Nursing Research, 57, 390–405. https://doi.org/10.1177/08445621251336503
Chen, F., Liu, Y., Wang, X., & Dong, H. (2021). Transition shock, preceptor support and nursing competency among newly graduated registered nurses: A cross-sectional study. Nurse education today, 102, 104891. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2021.104891
Chung, J., & Lim, F. (2025). Effect of Nurse Residency Programs on New Graduate Nurses Entering the Critical Care Setting. Critical Care Nursing Quarterly, 48, 120–142. https://doi.org/10.1097/cnq.0000000000000543
Dorgham, S., Alfaraj, E., & Al-Mahmoud, S. (2022). Feedback on the Preceptor’s Experience Post-Training: “A Quasi-experimental design.”. The Open Nursing Journal. https://doi.org/10.2174/18744346-v16-e221117-2022-32
Fawares, F., Ammar, K., Farhan, M., Nour, S., & Atmah, R. (2021). New nurses’ Perceptions of Their Experiences During Their First Year of Practice in Oncology Setting. Journal of Medical and Health Studies. https://doi.org/10.32996/jmhs.2021.2.1.1
Feeg, V., Mancino, D., Vasquez-Clarfield, B., Garrison, C., Mahler, E., & Vance, C. (2022). A National Perspective on New Nurse Graduate Transition to Practice: Secondary Analysis of the National Student Nurses’ Association 2021 New Graduate Survey. Nursing Economic$. https://doi.org/10.62116/nec.2022.40.4.167
Hampton, K., Smeltzer, S., & Ross, J. (2021). The transition from nursing student to practicing nurse: An integrative review of transition to practice programs. Nurse education in practice, 52, 103031. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2021.103031
Han, M.-K., Shin, S., & Kim, J. (2021). Individual and Institutional Outcomes of Nurse Residency Program for New Nurses: A Systematic Review. Korean Journal of Adult Nursing. https://doi.org/10.7475/kjan.2021.33.1.10
Hansen, W. (2021). The perceptions of newly qualified nurses on the guidance by preceptors towards becoming experts in nursing. Curationis, 44. https://doi.org/10.4102/curationis.v44i1.2205
Hansen, W., & Zuma, S. M. (2024). Guidelines to support newly qualified professional nurses for effective clinical practice. Curationis, 47. https://doi.org/10.4102/curationis.v47i1.2527
Joseph, H., Issac, A., George, A., Gautam, G., Jiji, M., & Mondal, S. (2022). Transitional Challenges and Role of Preceptor among New Nursing Graduates. Journal of Caring Sciences, 11, 56–63. https://doi.org/10.34172/jcs.2022.16
Kaldheim, H., Munday, J., Haddeland, K., & Fossum, M. (2024). Newly Graduated Perioperative Nurses’ Experiences of Transitioning to Clinical Practice: A Qualitative Explorative Secondary Analysis. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 81, 3252–3267. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.16537
Kim, E., Lee, J. S., Bong, Y. S., Jang, E. H., Lim, Y. H., Kim, J. A., & Song, N. (2023). Nursing practice readiness improvement program tailored for newly graduated registered nurses: A quasi-experimental study. Nurse education today, 133, 106077. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2023.106077
Kim, H., Kim, E., Noh, J., Bang, E., & Tak, S. (2025). The effect of a 10‐week field‐oriented transition programme for new graduate registered nurses in critical care. Nursing in Critical Care, 30. https://doi.org/10.1111/nicc.13298
Koh, C., Ong, K., Tan, M. M. L., & Mordiffi, S. (2023). Evaluation of a graduate nurse residency program: A retrospective longitudinal study. Nurse education today, 126, 105801. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2023.105801
Kreedi, F., Brown, M., Marsh, L., & Rogers, K. (2021). Newly Graduate Registered Nurses’ Experiences of Transition to Clinical Practice: A Systematic Review. American Journal of Nursing Research. https://doi.org/10.12691/ajnr-9-3-4
Kwon, H.-K., Kim, S., Lee, K. Y., Jung, E., & Lee, E. (2025). Competency-Based Transitional Support Program for Newly Graduated Nurses: A Program Development Study. The Journal of Nursing Research, 33. https://doi.org/10.1097/jnr.0000000000000697
Lee, T., Yoon, Y., & Ji, Y. (2024). Predicting New Graduate Nurses’ Retention during Transition Using Decision Tree Methods: A Longitudinal Study. Journal of Nursing Management, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/4687000
Lewallen, L., & Van Horn, E. (2025). Exploration of competence and incompetence in new graduate nurses: Orientation leaders’ and preceptors’ perspectives. Nurse education in practice, 85, 104361. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2025.104361
Lima, M. S., & Alzyood, M. (2024). The impact of preceptorship on the newly qualified nurse and preceptors working in a critical care environment: An integrative literature review. Nursing in Critical Care. https://doi.org/10.1111/nicc.13061
Lindfors, K., Flinkman, M., Kaunonen, M., Huhtala, H., & Paavilainen, E. (2022). New graduate registered nurses’ professional competence and the impact of preceptors’ education intervention: a quasi-experimental longitudinal intervention study. BMC Nursing, 21. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-022-01133-4
Lindfors, K., Kaunonen, M., Huhtala, H., & Paavilainen, E. (2021). Newly graduated nurses’ evaluation of the received orientation and their perceptions of the clinical environment: An intervention study. Scandinavian journal of caring sciences. https://doi.org/10.1111/scs.12963
Masso, M., Sim, J., Halcomb, E., & Thompson, C. (2022). Practice readiness of new graduate nurses and factors influencing practice readiness: A scoping review of reviews. International journal of nursing studies, 129, 104208. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2022.104208
McDermott, C. (2023). Reimagining the Preceptor Role. Nursing administration quarterly, 47 3, 227–233. https://doi.org/10.1097/naq.0000000000000580
McGregor, H., Scott, M., Gorham, R., & Hunt, E. (2024). Impact of Nurse Residency Programs on Retention and Job Satisfaction: An Integrative Review. European Scientific Journal, ESJ. https://doi.org/10.19044/esj.2024.v20n24p1
Miller, C., Meyer, K., Riemann, L., Carter, B., & Brant, J. (2023). Transition Into Practice: Outcomes of a Nurse Residency Program. Journal of continuing education in nursing, 54 1, 32–39. https://doi.org/10.3928/00220124-20221207-08
Mohammad, Z., & Al-Hmaimat, N. (2024). The effectiveness of nurse residency programs on new graduate nurses’ retention: Systematic review. Heliyon, 10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e26272
Prosen, M., & Ličen, S. (2023). Newly graduated nurses’ perceptions of their professional role and professional competency: a qualitative focus group study. BMC Medical Education, 23. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-023-04747-7
Rae, M., Loh, L., Neo, N. W. S., Mordiffi, S., Toh, Z. A., Koh, C., Woo, B., & Ang, W. (2025). Registered nurses’ experiences of the graduate nurse residency program: A qualitative study. Nurse education today, 148, 106638. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2025.106638
Reebals, C., Wood, T., & Markaki, A. (2021). Transition to Practice for New Nurse Graduates: Barriers and Mitigating Strategies. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 44, 416–429. https://doi.org/10.1177/0193945921997925
Renkema, A., Zipp, J. S., Tahan, H., Warren, J., & MacDonald, R. (2024). Identification of statewide core competencies for new graduate nurses at the beginning of practice and after a 12-month nurse residency program. Nurse education in practice, 80, 104147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2024.104147
Rodessa, V., Kurniadi, A., & Bandur, A. (2020). The Impact of Preceptorship Program on Turnover Intention of Fresh Graduate Nurses in Hospital. 1, 131–148. https://doi.org/10.37363/bnr.2020.1334
Song, J., Kim, K., & Jang, Y. (2024). South Korean Nurse Residency Program for New Graduates: A Posttest Study. Journal of continuing education in nursing, 1–5. https://doi.org/10.3928/00220124-20240426-01
Sterner, A., Eklund, A., & Nilsson, M. S. (2023). Prepared to learn but unprepared for work: A cross sectional survey study exploring the preparedness, challenges, and needs of newly graduated nurses entering a hospital-based transition program. Nurse education in practice, 72, 103782. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2023.103782
Thompson, L., Catarelli, B., Zhang, X., & Weaver, M. (2025). Beyond Unit Orientation: Analysis of Newly Graduated Nurse Perception of Their Transitional Year. Journal for nurses in professional development. https://doi.org/10.1097/nnd.0000000000001166
Vázquez-Calatayud, M., & Eseverri-Azcoiti, M. C. (2023). Retention of newly graduated registered nurses in the hospital setting: A systematic review. Journal of clinical nursing. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.16778
Winarti, L. D. W., Yetti, K., Afriani, T., & Novieastari, E. (2025). Influencing Factors of New Nurses’ Competency Following Participation in a Preceptorship Program: Cross-Sectional Study. Asian/Pacific Island Nursing Journal, 9. https://doi.org/10.2196/75202
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Suzan Hassan Al Somali
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
