Date

4-7-2026

Department

School of Nursing

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD)

Chair

Jane Langemeier

Keywords

operating room, nursing, new graduate nurse, intern, perioperative, nurse residency

Disciplines

Nursing

Abstract

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the essence of the lived experiences of new graduate nurse interns transitioning to the operating room (OR) specialty at a southeastern U.S. university hospital system. Many hospitals have nurse residency programs designed to support and facilitate new nursing graduates’ transition to practice areas. The OR is a highly specialized nursing area requiring training in addition to what is offered in nurse residency programs. The central research question was, what is the lived experience of new graduate OR nurses as they complete their transition to practice programs? The theory guiding this study was Kolb’s experiential learning theory, which provides a framework for understanding the multifaceted evolution of a nurse’s practice area. Qualitative data were collected from interviews, field notes, and unstructured observations and analyzed using Colaizzi’s method of data analysis. Atlas.ti assisted with extracting significant themes that offer a deeper understanding of these lived experiences. Four essential themes comprised the core experiences of the 10 nurse participants: adapting to the OR culture, building trust and teamwork, navigating simultaneous transition to practice programs, and transitioning from theory to practice. These themes illuminate the complex nature of this critical phase of nurses’ professional development. Recommendations are a structured mentorship, OR-specific residency programs, and a supportive workplace culture, all of which may improve the experiences of OR nurses in new graduate residency and internship programs.

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