Transitions in Nursing: Preparing for Professional Practice

The book has been designed to provide comprehensive information on key issues associated with transition. Readers will find viewpoints that are challenging and sometimes disconcerting, but at the same time motivating and thought-provoking. The fourth edition is divided into three sections. Section 1 examines issues from student to graduate nurse. Section 2 looks at skills for dealing with the world of work. Section 3 discusses the organisational environments. This edition also includes three new chapters in the area of evidence-based practice/knowledge translation: a practical guide; establishing and maintaining a professional identity: portfolios and career progression; and transition into practice: the regulatory framework for nursing. Understanding the context in which we work is crucial to effective functioning in the workplace. Knowing how to provide care for patients and their families in the health system is not sufficient: we need to learn how to care for ourselves in order to care for our patients effectively. The exercises and learning activities that appear throughout the book offer readers a range of helpful suggestions in understanding the nursing context, managing stress and caring for themselves. In addition, each chapter includes recommended readings, case studies and reflective questions for further exploration.