Other Titles
Rising Star Poster/Presentation - Rapid Presentation Round
Abstract
Background: The transition from being a student to a registered nurse is a challenging and stressful period for novice nurses. Stress is a universal human response to difficult situations, and it is important to recognize early on, as failure to do so can negatively impact nurses' well-being and decrease their long term ability to effectively function.
Purpose: The purpose of this literature review was to examine the impact of stress on novice nurses during the transition to practice.
Methods: An analysis of peer-reviewed literature from 2021 to 2025 was conducted using databases such as PubMed and CINAHL. The research studies discussed how stress greatly affects novice nurses' health and job performance, and interventions were explored to address these problems.
Results: After conducting the research, three themes surfaced: the impact of stress on novice nurses’ mental health, physical health, and nurse performance. The studies demonstrated that stress during this transition caused nurses to experience anxiety, low self-esteem, and depression. Physiologically, stress caused nurses to have headaches, fatigue, and shortened sleep time. Additionally, increased stress levels impair novice nurses’ clinical judgment and job performance, which places both nurses and patients’ safety at risk.
Conclusions & Implications: Unmanaged stress during the transition to practice has significant long-term health consequences on nurses and increased the risk of burnout early on in their careers. Researchers consistently highlighted the need for early interventions to mitigate this issue to prevent health consequences in new nurses. Through the implementation of nurse mentorship programs, meditation-based practices, and supportive work environments, it can help facilitate the transition to practice.
Notes
Reference list included in attached slide deck.
Sigma Membership
Alpha Omega
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Literature Review
Research Approach
N/A
Keywords:
Job Stress, Psychological Stress, Stress Management, Nursing Practice, Well-Being, Transitional Programs (Education), Novice Nurses, Entry Level Employees
Recommended Citation
Ilyayev, Ilona L., "Impact of Stress on Novice Nurses During the Transition to Practice: A Literature Review" (2026). Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE). 15.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/chwe/2026/presentations_2026/15
Conference Name
Creating Healthy Work Environments
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Washington, DC, USA
Conference Year
2026
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
None: Event Material, Invited Presentation
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2026-04-23
Impact of Stress on Novice Nurses During the Transition to Practice: A Literature Review
Washington, DC, USA
Background: The transition from being a student to a registered nurse is a challenging and stressful period for novice nurses. Stress is a universal human response to difficult situations, and it is important to recognize early on, as failure to do so can negatively impact nurses' well-being and decrease their long term ability to effectively function.
Purpose: The purpose of this literature review was to examine the impact of stress on novice nurses during the transition to practice.
Methods: An analysis of peer-reviewed literature from 2021 to 2025 was conducted using databases such as PubMed and CINAHL. The research studies discussed how stress greatly affects novice nurses' health and job performance, and interventions were explored to address these problems.
Results: After conducting the research, three themes surfaced: the impact of stress on novice nurses’ mental health, physical health, and nurse performance. The studies demonstrated that stress during this transition caused nurses to experience anxiety, low self-esteem, and depression. Physiologically, stress caused nurses to have headaches, fatigue, and shortened sleep time. Additionally, increased stress levels impair novice nurses’ clinical judgment and job performance, which places both nurses and patients’ safety at risk.
Conclusions & Implications: Unmanaged stress during the transition to practice has significant long-term health consequences on nurses and increased the risk of burnout early on in their careers. Researchers consistently highlighted the need for early interventions to mitigate this issue to prevent health consequences in new nurses. Through the implementation of nurse mentorship programs, meditation-based practices, and supportive work environments, it can help facilitate the transition to practice.
Description
The transition to practice places new graduate nurses under significant stress, which impacts their well-being and ultimately compromising patient safety. Evidence-based strategies were explored to help support nurses, improve retention, and promote safer patient care.