Matters of the heart: Navigating transition to practice

The transition from student to practicing nurse is a defining moment — filled with excitement, uncertainty, and intense professional growth. In this episode of Lippincott® Spark: Illuminating Nursing Education, host Dr. Kelly Dries welcomes internationally recognized nursing education expert Dr. Tim Bristol for an insightful discussion on what new nurses truly need during this pivotal phase.

Together, they explore the realities many new graduates face: emotional strain, “reality shock,” and a steep learning curve that typically peaks around the six‑month mark. Drawing on current trends in nurse stress and retention, Dr. Bristol and Dr. Dries highlight why structured onboarding, supportive preceptorship, and intentional mentoring are more essential than ever for sustaining the nursing workforce.

Dr. Bristol explains that while students often learn concepts in isolation, real-world practice is far more complex — more like a chaotic “mud pit” where multiple patients, competing demands, and unpredictable challenges converge.  To bridge this gap, the episode offers practical, evidenced-informed strategies for strengthening clinical judgment, including daily exposure to case studies that mirror real practice and surface common “landmines” such as medication errors, patient deterioration, and shifting care demands.

Listeners will enjoy a rapid-fire segment revealing Dr. Bristol’s favorite scrubs color, the most underrated nursing skill, and the advice he would give his 20-year-old self. He concludes with a powerful reminder: clinical judgment is the “doing” that follows critical thinking — and new nurses must practice it every day.

This episode delivers meaningful insights and actionable tools for building resilience, confidence, and competence in the next generation of nurses. Whether you are a new graduate, a seasoned educator, or a clinical instructor, this conversation illuminates a clear and supportive path toward practice readiness and long-term professional success.