Head Nurses Support to Develop the Career of Young Nurses

Abstract

〔Objective〕The aim of this study was to investigate the nature of the support actually provided by head nurses to develop the career of young nurses who have been nursing 3 years or less.

〔Methods〕The subjects were 14 head nurses supporting young nurses. Data were collected by semi-structured interviews and analyzed using qualitative inductive methods.

〔Results〕The data were classified into 3 major categories associated with the career development of young nurses supported by the head nurses：“support carrier development as a ward staff,” “support carrier development as a nursing profession” and “support young people’s growth.” The data were classified into 19 categories associated with the hopes for young nurses from the head nurses, such as “adapting to the job,” “discovering the attractiveness of nursing,” “developing as a member of society,” and with the actual support provided by head nurses, such as “adjusting the business in the ward,” “training young nurses by all staff in the ward.”

〔Conclusions〕The present results suggested that, in order to develop the career of young nurses, head nurses may support not only their adapting to a job and mastering of knowledge and skills but also growing as a nurse’s professional and help them to achieve developmental tasks.