The Journal of the Japan Academy of Nursing Administration and Policies Vol. 15, No. 2, PP 135-146, 2011 Differences between Expectations and Experiences of Experienced Nurses Entering a New Work Environment Minako Ito Key words : experienced nurses, transition to new work environment, expectations, reality shock, realistic job preview Abstract The purpose of this research was to identify the structure of the differences between expectations and experiences of nurses entering a new work environment using qualitative analysis. Seven experienced nurses who transferred to a different hospital for the first time and continued to work there were interviewed. Data analyzed using a grounded theory approach, revealed that experienced nurses joined the new organization with several expectations: hope or a positive image for changing hospitals and worry about working at a new hospital. Entering a new work environment, they encountered the reality of the situation and recognized the gaps between expectations and realities which was like reality shock for graduate nurses. Even experienced nurses could not accurately anticipate how a new organization would be or how nursing might be practiced before entering a new organization, which is similar to new nurses situation. To decrease the gap between expectations and realities, nursing administrators should give enough information about their organization to transferred nurses as a realistic job preview before they begin working. In addition, all transferred nurses probably faced this gap; therefore, they need to be supported in a different way than newly graduated nurses. 135
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