A Professional Development Programme (ProDeveloP) for Newly Graduated Nurses

Implementing a Professional Development Programme (ProDeveloP): an Introduction for Newly Graduated Nurses

This clinical study aims to implement and evaluate a professional development programme (ProDeveloP) designed to facilitate the transition of newly graduated nurses (NGNs) into their new roles. NGNs face several challenges in the work environment and in developing their professional competencies. The aim is to support NGNs in a county hospital in central Sweden to facilitate their professional development. Data will be collected during the NGNs' first year through measures at week week 13 (for both arms) and quarterly (intervention grpoup). This will be combined with individual interviews and focus groups with NGNs, dialogue facilitators and managers.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Development; Nurse Role; Professional Quality of Life; Professional Fulfillment; Professional Identity Formation; Support Program
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Professional development programme

Detailed Description

The primary outcomes will be role clarity, task mastery, social acceptance, recovery and stress. The researchers will compare the results of the primary outcomes with those of a control group measure. Secondary outcomes will be experience of the intervention, transition support, job satisfaction and intention to leave.

Informed consent was signed prior to participation in the study. The ethical application has been approved by the Ethics Authority IS, diary number 2022-05682-0.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 101
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Sweden
  • Västerås, Sweden, 721 23
    • Mälardalens University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion criteria:

• Registered nurses in Sweden employed as Newly Graduated Nurses (NGNs) in a county in central Sweden participating in the ProDeveloP, the intervention group.
• Registered nurses in Sweden employed as Newly Graduated Nurses (NGNs) in a county in central Sweden, NGNs participating in the introduction programme prior to the study, not participating in the ProDeveloP, the control group.
• Experienced registered nurses as facilitators for the dialogue groups for the NGNs in the intervention.
• Managers at the county hospital for the NGNs participating in the intervention.

Exclusion criteria:

• Managers without NGNs participated in the intervention.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
• Allocation: Non-Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Participating in the Professional development program (ProDeveloP); The group received the intervention of the Professional Development Programme (ProDeveloP). The planning of the ProDeveloP has been done in close collaboration with stakeholders within the hospital setting where the programme will be implemented. The programme includes face-to-face approaches from peer learning and e-learning modalities.	Behavioral: Professional development programme; The professional development programme include dialogue groups facilitated by registered nurses (RN) who are expert and experienced supervisors that received a three day training before conducting the groups. Then including education days with joint lectures and simulations with experts in the field with experience. The programme provides NGNs with regular opportunities for reflection for learning from experiences of care to enhance personal and professional growth.
No Intervention: Control group prior the intervention in 2022; The group did not receive the intervention but participated in the prior introduction programme in 2022 including 8 educational days.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Role Clarity	Role clarity, the professional development process in terms of gaining clarity about the responsibilities content and boundaries of the role, was measured with the Validated scale from the Questionnaire for Psychological and Social Factors at Work (QPS Nordic). A 5-point Likert scale was used with three items. During the last week, how did you feel about: Having clearly defined goals?; You know what your responsibilities are?; You know exactly what is required of you at work? These items range from 'Very seldom or never (0)' to 'Very often or always' (4). The items were summed to between 0-12. Higher summed scores indicated better outcomes.	The measurement was collected at one time point at thirteen weeks of participation in the ProDeveloP for the intervention group or in the prior introduction programme for the control group.
Task Mastery	Task mastery was measured with the validated scale from Swedish version of the Needs Satisfaction and Frustration Scale (NSFS). A 5-point Likert scale was used with two items.; During the last week, have you felt that you have been able to fulfil even the most demanding tasks?; During the last week, have you felt that you have been good at doing your job? These items range from 'Very seldom or never (0)' to 'Very often or always' (4). The items were summed to between 0-8. Higher summed scores indicated better outcomes.	The measurement was collected at one time point at thirteen weeks of participation in the ProDeveloP for the intervention group or in the prior introduction programme for the control group.
Social Acceptance	Social acceptance, of being integrated into the work group and belonging at work, was measured with the validated Needs Satisfaction and Frustration Scale (NSFS). A 5-point Likert scale was used with two items. During the last week: I have felt that the people I work with have really cared about me? I have felt included in the work group?A 5-point lickert scale was used. These items range from 'Very seldom or never (0)' to 'Very often or always' (4). The items were summed to between 0-8. Higher summed scores indicated better outcomes.	The measurement was collected at one time point at thirteen weeks of participation in the ProDeveloP for the intervention group or in the prior introduction programme for the control group.
Stress	Stress levels was measured with the validated Stress and Energy Questionnaire (SEQ). A 5-point Likert scale was used with three items. During the last week when you have been working, how often have you felt: Tense?; Stressed?; Pressured? These items range from 'Very seldom or never (0)' to 'Very often or always' (4). The items were summed to between 0-12. Lower summed scores indicated better outcomes.	The measurement was collected at one time point at thirteen weeks of participation in the ProDeveloP for the intervention group or in the prior introduction programme for the control group.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Job Satiscation	Job satisfaction was measrued validated Job Satisfaction scale with 5-point lickert scale with three items. How often do you feel about your work in the following ways; I feel happy at work?; I feel satisfied with the work I have?; I feel satisfaction with my work? Range from 'Very seldom or never´(0) och 'Very often or often´ (4). Summed items to between 0-12. Higher scores better outcomes.	Measured during months 4, 8 and 12 after enrollment of the intervention. No control group measurements are available for the secondary outcomes.
Intentions to Leave	Intentions to leave the workplace or profession was measured by the validated Organizational Commitment on Job Turnover Intention scale. Please respond to the following statements about changing workplace: I often think about leaving my current place of work?; As sson as possible I will leave my current workplace?; I am actively looking for a job outside my current workplace? Please comment on the following statements about changing profession: I often think about changing profession?; I actively look for work outside this profession?; I would like to leave this profession as soon as possible? Using a 7-point Likert scale with a range of 'completely incorrrect´ (0) to'completely correct´ (6).	Measured during months 4, 8 and 12 after enrollment of the intervention. No control group measurements are available for the secondary outcomes.
Recovery	Recovery was measured by the validated Karolinska Sleep Questionnaireith 5-point Likert scale ranging from "not at all" to "very much". The Sleep quality of 3 items from the subjective meaning of good sleep from: 1. Did you have trouble falling asleep last night? 2. How did you sleep last night? 3. Have you slept restlessly? 2 item of being able to let go of work thoughts; During the past week, have I had difficulty letting go of thoughts about work during my free time?; During the past week, have you been able to relax? 1 items engagement in leisure activities scale of using a 5-point Lickert scale ranging from "never" to "daily". 1. During the past week, have you been able to do activities that give you energy?	Measured during months 4, 8 and 12 after enrollment of the intervention. No control group measurements are available for the secondary outcomes.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Mälardalen University
• Collaborators: AFA Insurance; Region Västmanland
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Margareta Asp, Professor, Mälardalens University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Lindblom M, Widarsson M, Sodersved Kallestedt ML, Letterstal A, Nilsson KW, Asp M, Hoglander J. Associations Between Participation in ProDeveloP and Newly Graduated Nurses' Stress and Professional Development When Transitioning into Practice. SAGE Open Nurs. 2026 Feb 9;12:23779608261421265. doi: 10.1177/23779608261421265. eCollection 2026 Jan-Dec.
• Lindblom M, Hoglander J, Letterstal A, Sodersved Kallestedt ML, Asp M, Widarsson M. Reflection Supports Newly Graduated Nurses' Professional Development When Transitioning Into Practice. J Clin Nurs. 2025 Jul;34(7):2948-2960. doi: 10.1111/jocn.17772. Epub 2025 Apr 10.
• Hoglander J, Lindblom M, Sodersved Kallestedt ML, Letterstal A, Asp M, Widarsson M. Implementing a Professional Development Programme (ProDeveloP) for Newly Graduated Nurses: A Study Protocol. Nurs Rep. 2025 Jul 2;15(7):243. doi: 10.3390/nursrep15070243.

Helpful Links

• Published study protocol

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 27, 2022
• Primary Completion (Actual): September 17, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): October 1, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 18, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 18, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): December 19, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 18, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 25, 2026
• Last Verified: February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Recovery; Stress; Intervention; Interview; Focus group; Reflection; Professional development; Registered nurse; Introduction programme; Newly graduated nurses; Role clarity; Task mastery; Social acceptance; Transition support; Dialogue group; Intensive measures
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Behavior; Social Behavior; Social Identification
• Other Study ID Numbers: 220065

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: The ethical approval do not allow to share IPD outside the research group.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No