Original Research

Nurse graduates’ experiences and support needs: A qualitative systematic review of South Africa’s community service programme

Rita O. Abiodun, Felicity Daniels, Christoph Pimmer, Jennifer Chipps
Curationis | Vol 42, No 1 | a1906 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/curationis.v42i1.1906 | © 2019 Rita O. Abiodun, Felicity Daniels, Christoph Pimmer, Jennifer Chipps | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 25 January 2018 | Published: 21 August 2019

About the author(s)

Rita O. Abiodun, School of Nursing, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa
Felicity Daniels, School of Nursing, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa
Christoph Pimmer, Department of Business Administration, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, Basel, Switzerland
Jennifer Chipps, School of Nursing, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa

Abstract

Background: The student-to-nurse graduate transition is a pivotal phase in the professional development of nurses. In South Africa, this transition is part of a compulsory community service programme, which requires newly graduated nurses to work in rural and/or underserved areas for a period of 1 year.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to review nurse graduates’ experiences and support needs during their transition in the compulsory community service programme.

Methods: A qualitative systematic review of experiences was conducted. Qualitative research studies that addressed nurses’ experience in South Africa (2008–2017) were identified in Cochrane, Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI), Academic Search Complete, CINAHL, PubMed, SABINET, Science Direct, SCOPUS and Google Scholar databases. The systematic review methods included searching, sifting, abstracting and quality assessment of relevant qualitative studies by two reviewers and cross-checking by a third reviewer. Two reviewers independently performed blinded data extraction and quality assessment using the confidence in qualitative synthesis findings (ConQual) approach.

Results: A total of 1257 studies were identified of which 12 met the inclusion criteria. Seven of the 12 studies were published articles and six were theses. The quality of the studies was found to be of high standard based on the ConQual rating. Four main themes emerged from the analysis: (1) rich developmental experiences through practice exposure, (2) difficulties in reconciling theory and practice, (3) contextual challenges in the workplace and (4) need for professional support structures, educational measures and public guidelines.

Conclusion: Although positive experiences were reported, various challenges emerged, indicating the need for more systematic support mechanisms during transition.


Keywords

transition; nurse graduates; qualitative systematic review; community nursing service; South Africa

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Crossref Citations

1. A whatsapp community of practice to support new graduate nurses in South Africa
Rita Abiodun, Felicity Daniels, Dr Christoph Pimmer, Jennifer Chipps
Nurse Education in Practice  vol: 46  first page: 102826  year: 2020  
doi: 10.1016/j.nepr.2020.102826