Settling In:  Early career registered nurses

Abstract
The aim of this study is to describe the uptake of postgraduate education, the intent to travel and employment characteristics of New Zealand registered nurses in their fourth year of practice following registration. An appreciation of the preferences and pathways selected by early career registered nurses will support retention strategies, alongside further expansion of extended career pathways. This study analysed responses from 138 New Zealand registered nurses using data from the longitudinal Graduate e-cohort Study for nurses graduating in the years 2008-2011. Summary statistics in percentages/counts are reported along with tests of proportions using the Pearson’s chi square test. The majority of respondents remained in nursing employment in the fourth year after registration (92.8%, n = 128) and had completed or were undertaking a postgraduate qualification (81.2%, n = 112). The proportion employed in Australia (15.6%, n = 20) increased from the time of the first year survey (7.4%, n = 10) and 37% (n = 51) intended to travel and work over the next 12 months. Most respondents were employed in their preferred practice area (88.3%, n = 113) in acute hospital facilities (70.1%, n = 89) with 14.8% (n = 19) working in community and primary health care roles. Further research to explore the impact of postgraduate nursing education on patient outcomes and retention of registered nurses is recommended, along with research exploring the factors that motivate nurses to choose particular areas of practice. Understanding the factors that motivate registered nurses to work in particular areas will assist recruitment for difficult to staff areas. Ensuring positive health outcomes for patients must be at the forefront of advanced nursing education. Research that examines the differences made to patient care and health outcomes due to a highly educated workforce is needed.

Ngā ariā matua
Te whāinga ia o tēnei rangahau he whakamārama i te whakaurunga ki ngā tohu paerua, te hiahia ki te haere i te ao, me ngā āhuatanga whiwhinga mahi o ngā tapuhi rēhita i tō rātou tau mahi tuawhā i muri i te rēhitatanga. Nā te māramatanga ki ngā hiahia me ngā huarahi i kōwhiria e ngā tapuhi rēhita i ngā tau tuatahi o te mahi, kāore e kore ka tautokona ngā rautaki pupuri kaimahi, me te whakawhānui i ngā huarahi mahi toro whakamua. Tā tēnei rangahau he tātari i ngā whakautu mai i ētahi tapuhi rēhita 138 nō Aotearoa, nā te whakamahi raraunga i te Rangahau Wehenga Tāngata Pia o ngā tapuhi i tohia mō ngā tau 2008-2011. Kua puta ētahi tatauranga whakarāpopoto i ngā ōrautanga/tapeke, waihoki ngā whakamātau mō ngā ōwehe nā te whakamahi i te whakamātau tapawhā chi a Pearson. Kua noho tonu te nuinga o te hunga whakahoki kōrero ki roto i te mahi tapuhi i te tau tuawhā i muri mai i te rēhitatanga (92.8%, n = 128) ā, kua oti i te nuinga tā rātou tohu paerua, kua tīmata rānei he tohu (81.2%, n = 112). Kua tino piki ake te ōwehe i noho ki Ahitereiria (15.6%, n = 20) mai i te rangahautanga tuatahi (7.4%, n = 10) ā, 37% (n = 51) i mea ki te hāereere i te ao me te mahi i roto i te 12 marama whai i muri. I te mahi te nuinga o te hunga whakautu kōrero i tō rātou wāhi mahi pai ki a rātou (88.3%, n = 113) i ngā wāhanga hōhipera taurima tūroro (70.1%, n = 89) ā, ko tētahi 14.8% (n = 19) i te mahi i ngā mahi ā-hapori, ā-hauora taketake. E tūtohutia ana ētahi atu rangahau hei tūhura i te pānga o ngā akoranga paerua mō te tapuhi ki runga i ngā putanga mō te tūroro, me te puritanga o ngā tapuhi rēhita i te mahi tapuhi tae atu ki ngā āhuatanga e akiaki nei i te tapuhi ki te whai i tētahi ara mahi i te ao tapuhi. Mā te noho mārama ki ngā pūtake e noho ai ngā tapuhi ki te mahi i ētahi wāhanga motuhake, e ngāwari ake ai te kimi kaimahi hou i ngā wāhi he uaua te kimi tapuhi. Me mātua noho ko te whakaū i ngā putanga hauora pai mō ngā tūroro te mahi matua o te akoranga tapuhi matatini. E tika ana kia tino rangahaua te pānga o ngā akoranga tiketike ki te mahi taurima tūroro, me ngā putanga hauora.

Key words / Kupu Matua
Early career nurses / Ngā tapuhi i ngā tau tuatahi o te mahi; workforce planning / te whakamahere mō te kāhui kaimahi; postgraduate education / te akoranga paerua; employment / me te whiwhinga mahi.