The experience of marginalization in new nursing graduates

• Published in: Nursing outlook 2004-11, Vol.52 (6), p.289-296
• Main Authors: Boychuk Duchscher, Judy E., Cowin, Leanne S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acculturation; Acute Disease - nursing; Attitude of Health Personnel; Burnout, Professional - etiology; Burnout, Professional - prevention & control; Burnout, Professional - psychology; Canada; Forecasting; Humans; Intergenerational Relations; Interprofessional Relations; Models, Nursing; Models, Psychological; Nurse's Role; Nursing; Nursing Staff - organization & administration; Nursing Staff - psychology; Organizational Culture; Personnel Turnover - statistics & numerical data; Personnel Turnover - trends; Professional Competence; Self Concept; Social Alienation - psychology; Social Behavior; Social Distance; Social Identification; Social Isolation; Social Values; Socialization; United States; Workplace - organization & administration; Workplace - psychology
• ISSN: 0029-6554; 1528-3968
• DOI: 10.1016/j.outlook.2004.06.007

This article discusses the conceptual history of marginalization, suggesting its use as a framework within which to understand some of the causal relationships between the high rate of attrition of new nursing graduates from professional nursing and the difficulties incurred during their transition from student to professionally practicing nurse. The application of marginalization in this article focuses on the vulnerability and alienation that these newly graduated nurses experience during their introduction to acute-care practice. The article further suggests that they are both inadequately prepared by their undergraduate education to enter into the full scope of their new role as professional practitioners, and ineffectually orientated to an oppressive workplace culture that they are expected to sustain.