Abstract
This study was made to clarify how to acquire a practical nursing ability and what kind of experiences are involved in the acquisition process of seven newly-recruited nurses just assigned in pediatric ward of an university hospital. This study was made focusing on the first three months after their getting the work. Based on data analysis using the modified grounded theory approach, the results were classified into three categories; 1) signs of working awareness of having responsibility as a nurse in the pediatric field, 2) recognition of unexpected actual situation and 3) self-awareness of having been supported by others. Contrary to their expectation, the newly recruited nurses had a feeling that they were really helpless when they were struggling with the realities such as difficulties of handling children and pressures from the surroundings. However, they were encouraged with newly obtained supports and were able to continue the work after repeated trial and error in these circumstances. Children's smiling faces and the presence of their mothers supporting the inexperienced nurses were included in such supports. These findings pointed out that persons involved in graduate education should make an effort to lessen the pressures on the newly recruited nurses and encourage them to enhance their own abilities through repeated trial and error.
