Organizational Socialization of Nurses Transferred to ICU

Abstract

This study focuses on the integration process of nurses who were transferred to a new organization and clarifies their organizational socialization. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five nurses transferred with general ward only experience to ICU one-two years earlier. Narrative-approach analysis identified 12 themes: The participants had accepted the transfer for their career. Once the transfer was formal, they became conservative and had expectations and anxieties; and gathered information about ICU. After joining ICU, they had difficulty acquiring a wide range of new knowledge and skills; faced an ICU culture that accepts only capable nurses; were expected to contribute to the team immediately as an experienced nurse; valued supportive colleagues; and despite questioning the ICU way, worked with them through experiences without pushing the ward's way. In about a year they found it had taken a year to master how to care for patients with severe conditions; felt expectation to assume additional roles; grew as an ICU member becoming able to take, at emergency or medical events, appropriate actions depending on what other staff are doing; their ward experience and new perspective were appreciated. Their pre-transfer impressions were formed from their past experiences and information about ICU. After joining ICU, although they were confused by the unique culture as well as the hasty expectation, they actively dealt with their colleagues and the organization to be useful and reforming. The above suggests it is necessary to respect transferred nurses' experience and have a welcoming workplace culture on the part of the ICU.