The lived experience of non -nurse college graduates in an accelerated nursing education program

TL;DRAbstract

A phenomenological study was conducted to describe the lived experience of non-nurse college graduates in an accelerated registered nurse (RN) education program designed for completion in less than 11 months. A purposive sample of 11 participants who recently completed the program shared their experience in lengthy, structured face-to-face interviews. Eight themes emerged: (1) a "whirlwind" forecasted in advance but surprisingly unimaginable; (2) awakening to the harsh realities of nursing through personal encounters with patients; (3) the transformation from expert to novice feels like being "deer in the headlights"; (4) mentoring from clinical instructors, passionate professors, and staff nurses is highly valued; (5) the journey to the finish line ranges from easy to difficult depending on their previous career; (6) students expect continuous quality improvement in the program; (7) class comradery and the development of friendships ease the stress; and (8) overall graduates liked the

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