Rites of passage. Adaptation of nursing graduates to a hospital setting.

Socialization is the process of moving from one social role to another by gaining knowledge, skills, and behaviors to participate in a group. Nurses who graduate from a nursing program, enter the work force, and develop a career undergo socialization as they become insiders in the hospital. The author's purpose in this article is to examine the socialization process of students in nursing education programs, in the workforce after graduation, and in the experiences a graduate may encounter during adaptation to the hospital.