From graduate to reflective practice scholar

Abstract

The National Health Service is currently striving to deliver evidence-based, effective and efficient services. In this climate, it is important to enable new graduates to develop their knowledge, skills and confidence to meet these exacting demands, in an effective and supportive environment. This is of particular importance because there is growing concern over the retention of new graduates. If new graduates do not receive effective support to complete the transition to a competent professional, then the concern is that they may choose to leave the profession and/or seek new roles. This opinion piece argues for an academic/practice partnership to provide the needed support structures to allow graduates to become competent professionals. Two examples are provided, which embrace such partnership working.