EXPLORING THE PERCEPTIONS AND EXPERIENCES OF NURSES TRANSITIONING TO PRIMARY HEALTHCARE: A QUALITATIVE DESCRIPTIVE STUDY

Abstract

Background: Transitioning is a highly ambiguous and stressful period for nurses, specifically in the primary healthcare setting with its diverse roles and disciplines. Despite the major global shift of health services requiring more nurses in primary healthcare, there is a dearth of literature providing insights into their transition experiences. Aim: This study aims to explore the perceptions and experiences of nurses transitioning to primary healthcare in Singapore. Methods: A descriptive qualitative design, employing the Theory of Work Adjustment conceptual framework, was adopted in this study. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 19 nurses, across five polyclinics in Singapore, who were transitioning to primary healthcare within the past one year. Individual, face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted till data saturation was reached. Data analysis was undertaken using thematic analysis. Results: Three themes of ‘idealistic assumptions’, ‘role realignment’, and ‘seeking enlightenment’ emerged from the data. These themes described the nurses’ initial feelings of being overwhelmed, forced realignment to fit in and the support received which led to their eventual transition to primary healthcare. Implications: This study supports the need to modify existing support programmes to ensure its responsiveness to the needs of nurses transitioning to primary healthcare. Further modifications to the nursing curriculum, recruitment campaigns and career framework for primary healthcare nurses are warranted to address the lack of understanding of primary healthcare amongst nurses in Singapore. More research is needed to conduct in-depth explorations on specific groups of nurses and their preceptors or nurse managers across all polyclinics in Singapore, to further enhance the nurses’ transitioning experiences to primary healthcare. Conclusion: This study provides valuable insights into the unique challenges nurses face when transitioning to primary healthcare. Nurse managers, educators and policy makers should take these findings into consideration to better support transitioning nurses.