Abstract
Objective : The objective was to evaluate registered nurses' perceptions of their initial experience in pediatric nursing practice.
Methods : The participants were 459 registered nurses with at least 2 years' experience of pediatric nursing. They completed anonymous questionnaires related to their perceptions of the initial experience of pediatric nursing, as well as their self-actualization as a nurse and professionalism. Valid replies (n=226) were analyzed.
Results : Nurses' perceptions of their initial experience of pediatric nursing comprised 2 factors, “professional development as a pediatric nurse” and “capacity to work”. Nurses who had an interest in children, had more than 6 years' pediatric nursing experience, worked in an outpatient setting or where all patients were children, and wished to continue developing their pediatric nursing experience scored highly on “professional development as a pediatric nurse”. Nurses who worked in environments where they were dealing only with child patients and those who expressed a desire to gain pediatric nursing experience in the future scored highly on “capacity to work”.
Conclusions : In the initial stage of employment in pediatric nursing, nurses perceive that their “professional development as a pediatric nurse” is heightened through accumulation of experience in pediatric nursing. Furthermore, it seems that positive engagement in shaping workplace systems to accumulate work experience raised “capacity to work” among pediatric nurses.
