Supporting New Graduate and Early Career Nurses
A special issue of Nursing Reports (ISSN 2039-4403). This special issue belongs to the section "Nursing Education and Leadership".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2026 | Viewed by 117
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
New graduate and early career nurses are essential to the healthcare system, bringing much needed human resource capital along with their energy, passion and knowledge. However, the experience of transition from student to professional continues to challenge their workplace integration and retention in the field. Ensuring adequate support during this critical period is key to retention and job satisfaction.
Many newly graduated nurses continue to face barriers including an unpredictable and stressful work environment, inconsistent support and limited career development opportunities. As healthcare evolves within a changing world, it is essential to equip early career nurses with the tools to adapt and succeed.
This Special Issue invites original research, literature reviews, perspectives and case studies exploring evidence-based strategies that enhance new nurse orientation, transition, integration and stabilization through advanced education, leadership, and practice. Topics may include, but are not limited to:
- Transition-to-practice programs
- Mentorship and peer support
- Burnout prevention and well-being
- Conflict and chaos management in the workplace
- Skill development and competency-building
- Leadership and career pathways
- Workforce policies and human health resource sustainability
- Global perspectives on early career nursing
By contributing, authors can help shape strategies that strengthen the nursing workforce and improve patient care. Join us in advancing the future of nursing.
Dr. Judy E. Duchscher
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nursing Reports is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- new graduate nurses
- early career nurses
- transition-to-practice
- workforce development
- leadership
- mentorship
- career pathways
- staff well-being
- skill development
- burnout prevention
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