From student to nurse: exploring transition shock through stress, locus of control, and coping strategies in newly graduated nurses
Abstract Background Newly graduated nurses often face a difficult transition from academic training to clinical practice, commonly experiencing “transition shock.” This period is characterized by heightened occupational stress, reduced coping capacity, and uncertainty about role identity. Aim This s...
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2025-08-01
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| Series: | BMC Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-03315-6 |
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| author | Rasha Kadri Ibrahim Mirna Safi Amani Darwish Yasir S. Alsalamah Lisa Babkair Nasiru Mohammed Abdullahi Basma Maher Manar Nasser Alotaibi Monerh Abdullah Alfalaij Shorok Hamed Alahmedi Sally Mohammed Farghaly Abdelaliem Abdelaziz Hendy |
| author_facet | Rasha Kadri Ibrahim Mirna Safi Amani Darwish Yasir S. Alsalamah Lisa Babkair Nasiru Mohammed Abdullahi Basma Maher Manar Nasser Alotaibi Monerh Abdullah Alfalaij Shorok Hamed Alahmedi Sally Mohammed Farghaly Abdelaliem Abdelaziz Hendy |
| author_sort | Rasha Kadri Ibrahim |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Newly graduated nurses often face a difficult transition from academic training to clinical practice, commonly experiencing “transition shock.” This period is characterized by heightened occupational stress, reduced coping capacity, and uncertainty about role identity. Aim This study aimed to investigate the effects of occupational stress, coping strategies, and work locus of control on transition shock among newly graduated nurses. It also examined how marital status and clinical unit (critical vs. non-critical care) moderate these relationships. Methods A cross-sectional and descriptive correlational design was adopted. The study was conducted in governmental and private hospitals in Cairo, Egypt. A total of 395 newly graduated nurses (with less than one year of clinical experience) participated. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and four validated instruments: the Transition Shock Scale, the Occupational Stress Scale, the Trait Coping Style Questionnaire, and the Work Locus of Control Scale. Data analysis was performed using SPSS and AMOS software. Statistical techniques included Pearson correlation, multiple linear regression, and a moderated mediation analysis. Occupational stress was tested as a mediator, and marital status and unit of assignment were examined as moderators. Results Transition shock showed a strong positive correlation with occupational stress (r = 0.66, p < 0.01) and external WLOC (r = 0.40, p < 0.01) and a negative correlation with positive coping (r = -0.39, p < 0.01). Mediation and moderation models confirmed occupational stress as a mediator and marital status and unit assignment as moderators of stress-to-shock pathways. The model explained 64.6% of the variance in transition shock (R² = 0.646). Conclusion Enhancing positive coping and internal locus of control, while reducing stress, can help mitigate transition shock. Supportive workplace programs are essential for nurse retention and well-being. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1baa9ffc1b1b415e9badac10b89bfce3 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2050-7283 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Psychology |
| spelling | doaj-art-1baa9ffc1b1b415e9badac10b89bfce32025-08-24T11:58:13ZengBMCBMC Psychology2050-72832025-08-0113111210.1186/s40359-025-03315-6From student to nurse: exploring transition shock through stress, locus of control, and coping strategies in newly graduated nursesRasha Kadri Ibrahim0Mirna Safi1Amani Darwish2Yasir S. Alsalamah3Lisa Babkair4Nasiru Mohammed Abdullahi5Basma Maher6Manar Nasser Alotaibi7Monerh Abdullah Alfalaij8Shorok Hamed Alahmedi9Sally Mohammed Farghaly Abdelaliem10Abdelaziz Hendy11Nursing Department, Fatima College of Health SciencesHuman Resources Department, College of Business, Australian UniversityPsychology Department, Fatima College of Health SciencesDepartment of Nursing, Mental Health Hospital, Qassim Health ClusterFaculty of Nursing, King Abdulaziz UniversityDepartment of Psychiatric and Mental Health and Community Health, College of Nursing, Qassim UniversityRAK College of Nursing, RAK Medical and Health Sciences UniversityDepartment of Nursing, Pediatric Emergency, King Abdullah Specialized Children Hospital, Ministry of National Guard-Health AffairsScience in Nursing (Advanced Practice), Dublin City UniversityDepartment of Nursing Management and Education, College of Nursing, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman UniversityDepartment of Nursing Management and Education, College of Nursing, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman UniversityPediatric Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Ain Shams UniversityAbstract Background Newly graduated nurses often face a difficult transition from academic training to clinical practice, commonly experiencing “transition shock.” This period is characterized by heightened occupational stress, reduced coping capacity, and uncertainty about role identity. Aim This study aimed to investigate the effects of occupational stress, coping strategies, and work locus of control on transition shock among newly graduated nurses. It also examined how marital status and clinical unit (critical vs. non-critical care) moderate these relationships. Methods A cross-sectional and descriptive correlational design was adopted. The study was conducted in governmental and private hospitals in Cairo, Egypt. A total of 395 newly graduated nurses (with less than one year of clinical experience) participated. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and four validated instruments: the Transition Shock Scale, the Occupational Stress Scale, the Trait Coping Style Questionnaire, and the Work Locus of Control Scale. Data analysis was performed using SPSS and AMOS software. Statistical techniques included Pearson correlation, multiple linear regression, and a moderated mediation analysis. Occupational stress was tested as a mediator, and marital status and unit of assignment were examined as moderators. Results Transition shock showed a strong positive correlation with occupational stress (r = 0.66, p < 0.01) and external WLOC (r = 0.40, p < 0.01) and a negative correlation with positive coping (r = -0.39, p < 0.01). Mediation and moderation models confirmed occupational stress as a mediator and marital status and unit assignment as moderators of stress-to-shock pathways. The model explained 64.6% of the variance in transition shock (R² = 0.646). Conclusion Enhancing positive coping and internal locus of control, while reducing stress, can help mitigate transition shock. Supportive workplace programs are essential for nurse retention and well-being.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-03315-6Transition shockCoping strategiesOccupational stressWork locus of controlNewly graduated nursesPsychological adaptation |
| spellingShingle | Rasha Kadri Ibrahim Mirna Safi Amani Darwish Yasir S. Alsalamah Lisa Babkair Nasiru Mohammed Abdullahi Basma Maher Manar Nasser Alotaibi Monerh Abdullah Alfalaij Shorok Hamed Alahmedi Sally Mohammed Farghaly Abdelaliem Abdelaziz Hendy From student to nurse: exploring transition shock through stress, locus of control, and coping strategies in newly graduated nurses BMC Psychology Transition shock Coping strategies Occupational stress Work locus of control Newly graduated nurses Psychological adaptation |
| title | From student to nurse: exploring transition shock through stress, locus of control, and coping strategies in newly graduated nurses |
| title_full | From student to nurse: exploring transition shock through stress, locus of control, and coping strategies in newly graduated nurses |
| title_fullStr | From student to nurse: exploring transition shock through stress, locus of control, and coping strategies in newly graduated nurses |
| title_full_unstemmed | From student to nurse: exploring transition shock through stress, locus of control, and coping strategies in newly graduated nurses |
| title_short | From student to nurse: exploring transition shock through stress, locus of control, and coping strategies in newly graduated nurses |
| title_sort | from student to nurse exploring transition shock through stress locus of control and coping strategies in newly graduated nurses |
| topic | Transition shock Coping strategies Occupational stress Work locus of control Newly graduated nurses Psychological adaptation |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-03315-6 |
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