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Background: Newly qualified nurses (NQNs) often face stress and lack confidence when transitioning to professional practice. Addressing these challenges is crucial for their development and overall well-being. The way NQNs are welcomed and supported in the workplace is a critical factor influencing their transition experience as they learn to be nurses in the new workplace.

Aim: To deepen the understanding of the meanings of collegial support and workplace culture, and how these conditions promote mentees’ process of becoming confident nurses during their transition to professional practice.

Method: An explanatory sequential design with a multi method (QUAL-quan) triangulation approach guided by caring science and Gadamer’s philosophical hermeneutics was employed. Pre- and post-tests were used to evaluate psychosocial conditions in the workplace over time among NQNs (n = 27). Following the intervention, NQNs (n = 19) participated in focus group interviews. Triangulation served as a methodological metaphor to integrate qualitative and quantitative data.

Findings: The qualitative and quantitative findings point to the importance of a respectful, supportive, and positive workplace culture in enhancing the meaning of work, fostering a sense of fellowship, and building confidence and self-efficacy among NQNs. The results of the descriptive study demonstrate that social support and a sense of fellowship are highly valued, with no changes observed over time between the pre- and post-tests. Qualitative data support this, emphasising the significance of a caring workplace culture and collegial support.

Conclusion: The findings of this study demonstrate the considerable importance of developing a caring workplace culture that welcomes and respects NQNs as new colleagues. Value-conscious leadership is crucial in fostering such a culture by setting the tone in the workplace, thereby creating conditions that support continuous learning, fellowship, and overall well-being. This study reinforces the importance of supportive colleagues and a compassionate workplace culture in boosting NQNs’ confidence and their development into confident nurses.