Transition to Pandemic: Reality Shock and Role Development for the Novice Nurse.

Background The challenges related to the transition to professional nursing practice for the novice nurse have been well documented. In 2020, the transition to professional nursing was complicated by COVID-19. This research assimilated important qualitative perceptions related to the reasons novice nurses sought professional nursing practice and the impact of the pandemic on the decision to become a nurse, and identified the novice nurses' concerns related to COVID-19 and direct patient care.