Abstract
Background: As new graduate nurses (NGNs) transition to professional practice, they experience increased stress and are at risk for decreased professional well-being.1,2 When well-being is compromised, job satisfaction may be at risk and increased resignation ideation can occur.3 Nurse recruitment and retention in rural settings is challenging4 and turnover rates of NGNs in this population are unknown. Research that specifically explores well-being in rural NGNs is lacking.
Purpose: This study described the incidence of and association among well-being variables, job satisfaction, and resignation ideation in NGNs transitioning to practice in rural acute care settings in Texas.
Methods: This IRB-approved study utilized a survey-based cross-sectional research design and convenience sampling. Participants (n=24) working in rural and critical access hospitals were recruited in 2023 from individuals who had recently graduated from a large public university offered BSN program, via rural CNOs using a state-wide distribution list, and by partnering with a regional hospital system with rural locations. Survey questions included demographic data, job satisfaction and resignation ideation visual analog scales, and valid and reliable surveys designed to measure well-being, stress, depression, and anxiety.
Results: Participants were mostly female (91.7%) and white (70.8%) with an average age of 29.6 years and 12 months of nursing experience. Most reported high levels of job satisfaction (62.5%) but low levels of professional well-being (79.1%). Moderate levels of stress (58.4%) and lower levels of depression (20.8%), and anxiety (25%) were also reported. Lower levels of professional well-being were negatively associated with stress and resignation ideation. Higher levels of professional well-being were associated with higher levels of job satisfaction and lower levels of depression and anxiety.
Conclusion: Lower levels of professional well-being in rural new graduates may leave them at risk for resignation ideation and turnover. Targeted, evidence-based efforts5 to support NGN well-being that can be delivered by experienced rural nurses and rural-focused internships are needed as they transition to practice.
Notes
References:
1. Duchscher JB. A process of becoming: the stages of new nursing graduate professional role transition. J Contin Educ Nurs. 2008;39(10):441-480. doi:10.3928/00220124-20081001-03
2. Urban RW, Rogers MR, Eades TL, Allard PM, Porter MT, Cipher DJ. Resilience, stress, anxiety, and depression: exploring the mental health of new graduate nurses transitioning to practice during COVID-19. J Contin Educ Nurs. 2022;53(12):533-543. doi:10.3928/00220124-20221107-05
3. Urban RW, Porter MT, Cipher DJ. Exploring new graduate nurses' perceptions of factors influencing job satisfaction and resignation ideation during COVID-19. J Nurses Prof Dev. 2024;40(1):E27-E33. doi:10.1097/NND.0000000000001015
4. Rural and Minority Health Research Center. (2019, October). Rural registered nurses: educational preparation, workplace, and salary. https://www.sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/public_health/research/research_centers/sc_rural_health_research_center/documents/ruralregisterednurses.pdf
5. Melnyk BM, Kelly SA, Stephens J, et al. Interventions to improve mental health, well-being, physical health, and lifestyle behaviors in physicians and nurses: a systematic review. Am J Health Promot. 2020;34(8):929-941. doi:10.1177/0890117120920451
Sigma Membership
Delta Theta
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Cross-Sectional
Research Approach
Pilot/Exploratory Study
Keywords:
Transition to Practice, Onboarding, Acute Care, Stress and Coping, Clinical Practice, Workplace Culture, New Graduate Nurses, Professional Well-being
Recommended Citation
Urban, Regina Wilder and Jennings, Leslie A., "Exploring Well-Being in Rural New Graduate Nurses Transitioning to Practice: A Pilot Study" (2025). Biennial Convention (CONV). 73.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/convention/2025/presentations_2025/73
Conference Name
48th Biennial Convention
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Conference Year
2025
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
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2025-11-20
Funder(s)
University of Texas at Arlington, Center for Rural Health and Nursing
Exploring Well-Being in Rural New Graduate Nurses Transitioning to Practice: A Pilot Study
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Background: As new graduate nurses (NGNs) transition to professional practice, they experience increased stress and are at risk for decreased professional well-being.1,2 When well-being is compromised, job satisfaction may be at risk and increased resignation ideation can occur.3 Nurse recruitment and retention in rural settings is challenging4 and turnover rates of NGNs in this population are unknown. Research that specifically explores well-being in rural NGNs is lacking.
Purpose: This study described the incidence of and association among well-being variables, job satisfaction, and resignation ideation in NGNs transitioning to practice in rural acute care settings in Texas.
Methods: This IRB-approved study utilized a survey-based cross-sectional research design and convenience sampling. Participants (n=24) working in rural and critical access hospitals were recruited in 2023 from individuals who had recently graduated from a large public university offered BSN program, via rural CNOs using a state-wide distribution list, and by partnering with a regional hospital system with rural locations. Survey questions included demographic data, job satisfaction and resignation ideation visual analog scales, and valid and reliable surveys designed to measure well-being, stress, depression, and anxiety.
Results: Participants were mostly female (91.7%) and white (70.8%) with an average age of 29.6 years and 12 months of nursing experience. Most reported high levels of job satisfaction (62.5%) but low levels of professional well-being (79.1%). Moderate levels of stress (58.4%) and lower levels of depression (20.8%), and anxiety (25%) were also reported. Lower levels of professional well-being were negatively associated with stress and resignation ideation. Higher levels of professional well-being were associated with higher levels of job satisfaction and lower levels of depression and anxiety.
Conclusion: Lower levels of professional well-being in rural new graduates may leave them at risk for resignation ideation and turnover. Targeted, evidence-based efforts5 to support NGN well-being that can be delivered by experienced rural nurses and rural-focused internships are needed as they transition to practice.
Description
As new graduate nurses transition to professional practice, they experience increased stress and are at risk for decreased professional well-being, which can contribute to reduced job satisfaction and increased resignation ideation. This presentation will provide results from a pilot study focused on professional well-being with rural newly licensed nurses transitioning to professional practice and share evidence-based implications for these new nurses and their colleagues.