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. 2022 May 3;21(1):101.
doi: 10.1186/s12912-022-00885-3.

The first COVID-19 new graduate nurses generation: findings from an Italian cross-sectional study

Alvisa Palese  1 , Anna Brugnolli  2 , Illarj Achil  3 , Elisa Mattiussi  3 , Stefano Fabris  3 , Satu Kajander-Unkuri  4   5 , Valerio Dimonte  6 , Luca Grassetti  3 , Matteo Danielis  3
Affiliations

The first COVID-19 new graduate nurses generation: findings from an Italian cross-sectional study

Alvisa Palese et al. BMC Nurs. .

Abstract

Background: Nursing education has been disrupted by the onset of the COronaVIrus Disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic, potentially impacting learning experiences and perceived competencies at the time of graduation. However, the learning experiences of students since the onset of COVID-19, their perceived competences achieved and the employment status one month after graduation, have not been traced to date.

Methods: A cross sectional online survey measured the individual profile, the learning experience in the last academic year and the perceived competences of the first COVID-19 new nursing graduates in two Italian universities. Details relating to employment status and place of employment (Covid-19 versus non-COVID-19 units) one month after graduation were also collected and the data compared with those reported by a similar cohort of new graduates pre-pandemic in 2018-2019. All those who graduated in November 2020 and attended their third year after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic were eligible. The online survey included individual, nursing programme and first working experience variables alongside the Nurse Competence Scale (NCS). Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed.

Results: A total of 323 new graduates participated. In their last academic year, they experienced a single, long clinical placement in non-COVID-19 units. One month after graduation, 54.5% (n = 176) were working in COVID-19 units, 22.9% (n = 74) in non-COVID-19 units and 22.6 (n = 73) were unemployed. There was no statistical difference among groups regarding individual variables and the competences perceived. Fewer new graduates working in COVID-19 units experienced a transition programme compared to those working in non-COVID-19 units (p = 0.053). At the NCS, the first COVID-19 new graduate generation perceived significantly lower competences than the pre-COVID-19 generation in the 'Helping role' factor and a significant higher in 'Ensuring quality' and 'Therapeutic interventions' factors.

Conclusions: The majority of the first COVID-19 new graduate generation had been employed in COVID-19 units without clinical experience and transition programmes, imposing an ethical debate regarding (a) the role of education in graduating nurses in challenging times with limited clinical placements; and (b) that of nurse managers and directors in ensuring safe transitions for new graduates. Despite the profound clinical placement revision, the first COVID-19 new graduate generation reported competences similar to those of the pre-COVID-19 generation, suggesting that the pandemic may have helped them to optimise the clinical learning process.

Keywords: COVID-19; Competences; Cross-sectional study; New graduates; Nursing education; Nursing students.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow diagram of participants according to their working profile
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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