Lived Experiences of Newly Hired Nurses in Patient Care in a Selected Primary Hospital in Marikina City: A Basis for Onboarding Program Recommendation

This qualitative phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of newly hired nurses delivering patient care in a selected primary hospital in Marikina City, with the goal of recommending a contextualized onboarding program. Guided by the theories of Benner, Roy, and Wiedenbach, the study examined how novice nurses experienced the transition from academic preparation to clinical practice in a resource-constrained setting. Data were obtained from six informants selected through purposive sampling until saturation, gathered through semi-structured, audio-recorded in-depth interviews using a validated aide-memoire, and analyzed using Colaizzi's method, with member checking conducted to establish trustworthiness. Four major themes and twelve sub-themes emerged: Reality Shock of Clinical Practice, Perceived Gap between Education and Clinical Reality, Factors Affecting the Onboarding Program, and Elements of an Effective Onboarding Program. The findings indicate that the successful transition of novice nurses cannot rely on individual resilience alone but requires deliberate, institutionally supported onboarding addressing the emotional, educational, procedural, and organizational dimensions of the transition. The study recommends a structured, contextualized onboarding program featuring graduated clinical exposure, formal mentorship, and hands-on competency development tailored to the realities of primary hospital settings.