Newly qualified nurses--experiences of interaction with members of a community of practice.

AIM: To explore newly qualified nurses' (NQN) interaction with members of community of practice (CoP) and how it affects their participation in the CoP. BACKGROUND: The entry of NQNs into the health care service is problematic which can result in NQNs leaving the profession within the first years of their career. Studies indicate that interaction between NQNs and their colleagues has an important influence of the way in which the NQNs experience their participation in the community of practice. METHODOLOGY: Nine NQNs participated in the study. The data collection took place six months after graduating and the data were generated by participant observation and individual interview. The data were analysed inspired by Ricoeur's interpretation theory. RESULTS: Most of the participants expressed satisfaction in their job. They were employed in CoPs characterised by dialogue and with interest in NQNs as a professional as well as a private person. Participants who expressed some dissatisfaction in their job situation were employed in CoPs with less dialogue and with less interest in NQN. Uncertainty about their own capacity and less professional discussions results in NQNs repeatedly asking for specific answer to their questions. CONCLUSION: Mutual social and professional interest and acceptance increased NQNs' experience of being valued members of the CoP. Higher levels of dialogue and cohesion within the CoP corresponded with more active participation by NQNs and gave them a greater sense of security. Relevance for Clinical Practice NQNs' participation in a COP is influenced by the extent to which they are included in both professional and social interactions and afforded the opportunity to contribute with knowledge and experience from their nursing studies. Furthermore, the study indicates that NQNs' experience of social cohesion within the community appears to increase their professional performance.

Participating in a community of practice as a prerequisite for becoming a nurse - Trajectories as final year nursing students.

Participating in a community of practice (CoP) is essential for final year nursing students. The article describes the opportunities of student nurses to participate as members of a CoP, and how these opportunities were exploited. Ten students in their final clinical practice were included. Empirical data were generated through participant observation and individual interviews, focusing on the participants' interaction with the staff and were analysed within a phenomenological-hermeneutic framework. The results showed that the students were to a greater or lesser extent participatory in the CoP, depending on what both the students and the members of the staff did to make participation possible. The conclusion is that the students' participation is strengthened by the students and nurses showing interest in getting to know each other professionally and socially and by the students having the opportunity to contribute their knowledge. There must be an awareness of the unfortunate consequence of formalisation of learning in practice which can create a distancing learning space in the informal learning landscape by drawing students out of active participation in community of practice. Depending on the extent to which these aspects are present, participation can become an essential factor in the clinical phase of nursing education.