Det var verkligen som att man blev student igen när man började jobba

Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine nurses with maximum of one year of work experience and their expectations of the profession during their education in comparison to their current perception of their work situation. The research questions address how newly graduated nurses perceive their work situation, how they experience workload compared to their expectations at the end of their education, and how they perceive expectations and treatment from their supervisors. The theoretical framework consists of Karasek and Theorell's (1990) wellestablished demand-control-support model and the theory of psychological contract. By applying these frameworks, the experiences of newly graduated nurses can be compared with previous assumptions, which could only be done after comprehensive descriptions of the interviewees' current work situations were obtained. A qualitative method was chosen, employing semi-structured interviews, to collect data from seven newly graduated nurses who are currently working in hospitals and have worked for a maximum of 12 months. A thematic analysis was conducted on the collected data, resulting in three main themes: Expectations, Work Environment and the Importance of Colleague and Supervisor Support. All interviewees provided detailed and varied responses regarding their current work situations compared to their previous expectations. The findings of the study indicate a predominance of dissatisfaction with the perceived work situation, with factors such as high workload and understaffing identified as the main contributors. Additionally, all interviewees describe their work as considerably more demanding than they had imagined. The majority of the interviewees also expressed dissatisfaction with the treatment and expectations from their supervisors as newly graduated nurses. However, a prominent and highly positive aspect highlighted by all interviewees is the perceived support from colleagues, which for some has been the primary reason for choosing to remain in their workplace despite wanting to leave.