The defining characteristics of newly graduated nurses – A Delphi study

Despite processes designed to ensure that graduates of accredited nursing programs possess the necessary skills and knowledge to enter the workforce, a gap remains between graduate capabilities and industry expectations of work-readiness. This study aims to identify the defining characteristics of work-ready graduate nurses from the perspective of a purposive sample of new graduates, employers and academics utilising a three-round Delphi design and to compare the findings. In Round One participants provided free-text descriptors of graduate attributes, core knowledge and skills. In Rounds Two and Three participants prioritised categorised results from Round One and added free-text responses. Data from these rounds were not aggregated. In Round One, 14 academics, 20 clinicians and 12 graduates provided responses. In Round Two we received 10, 12 and 5 responses respectively and in Round Three 9, 8 and 4 responses respectively. The final round identified 19 characteristics and attributes, 10 knowledge areas and 11 skills for work-ready graduate nurses. This study identified that graduates should be safe practitioners, with professional behaviours, an understanding of anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology of disease, and medication safety, with good patient assessment and communication skills. Time management and prioritisation skills that graduates expect of themselves, develop with consolidation of practice.