Correlation between clinical communication competence and transition shock among new nurses: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

New nurses face severe transition shock when entering clinical practice. Clinical communication competence is one of the essential competencies for clinical nurses and is crucial to the quality of nursing care. However, this competence is affected by various factors, and relevant research remains insufficient. This study aimed to investigate the current status of clinical communication competence and transition shock among new nurses, and to explore the correlation between them. A cross-sectional study design was adopted, and a total of 221 new clinical nurses who were employed between July 2023 and July 2024 were selected as the study participants. They were surveyed using a general information questionnaire, the Nurse Clinical Communication Competence Scale, and the New Nurse Transition Shock Evaluation Scale. The correlation between the influencing factors of clinical communication competence and transition shock was analyzed. The total scores of clinical communication competence and transition shock were 238.77 ± 36.703 and 87.07 ± 23.640, respectively. Clinical communication competence scores differed significantly by only-child status ( t = − 2.264, P = 0.025), educational level ( F = 6.888, P = 0.001), and personality type ( t = 2.940, P = 0.004). Pearson correlation analysis showed a significant negative correlation between clinical communication competence and transition shock ( r = − 0.200, P < 0.01). Multiple linear regression revealed that only-child status ( β = 0.137, P = 0.035), personality type ( β = −0.152, P = 0.021), and transition shock ( β = −0.176, P = 0.007) were independent influencing factors, with an adjusted R ² = 0.090. Transition shock is negatively and independently associated with clinical communication competence among new nurses. Nevertheless, given the low explanatory power of the regression model in this study, additional influencing factors should be explored in future longitudinal studies. Nursing managers and educators may consider implementing measures to alleviate transition shock among new nurses, which may help optimize their clinical communication performance, further improve nursing quality and patient satisfaction, and provide a practical basis for the implementation of clinical communication training.