2005 Volume 9 Issue 1 Pages 30-37
The purpose of this study is to explain the types of reality shocks that new nurses encounter. We tried to categorize these reality shocks. Nurses were interviewed on 2 points just before they started their job, and then, 2─3 months into their job. We interviewed them individually, taped interviews, transcribed them, and compiled the data, which were permitted by each participant. Then we picked out the negative feelings from the recognized gaps between the 2 points.
As a result, we discovered 7 types of reality shocks. These are ① the gaps between the image and the reality of the medical professional, ② the gaps between the expectations and the reality of the nursing and medical team, ③ the gaps between an ambiguous image and the reality of belonging to the organization, ④ the gaps between their college education and practical care, ⑤ the gaps between expected coaching and the reality, ⑥ the gaps between their preparation for their hard job and the harder reality, ⑦ the gaps between their self-image and the reality.
In conclusion, even if they had an approximate estimation of their job before they started, reality shocks still surprised new nurses. We conjecture that one of the reasons is that new nurses need to be socialized in the organization and the profession simultaneously. Accordingly, we suggest how important it is to make more meaningful training plan that prepares these nurses for the reality shocks that all nurses must face.
