The purpose of this study is to explore the effects of the "SURVIVAL" intervention program on the nursing competencies, work self-efficacy, occupational stress and retention rate for students who recently graduated from the two-year baccalaureate nursing program.

The role transition for students who have recently graduated is a dynamic process, which is associated with stress and challenges. It was also a vital stage for successfully adapting to a nursing career to overcome the reality shock and become competent.

A prospective, longitudinal, quasi-experimental design was used to examine the effects of the SURVIVAL intervention on 72 participants in the control group and 38 participants in the experimental group.

The SURVIVAL intervention included an internship program, the adjustment of the college curriculum, career mentorship and peer support. The outcomes, including nursing competencies, work self-efficacy, occupational stress and the retention rate, were evaluated prior to the participants started working and one, three, six and 12 months after they started working.

Compared with the participants in the control group, those in the experimental group performed significantly better with regard to general clinical nursing skills, basic biomedical science, ethics, overall assessment, work self-efficacy and lower occupational stress.

The "SURVIVAL" intervention program for career transition, jointly developed through a partnership between academia and practice, improved some of the nursing competencies and work self-efficacy of the newly graduated nurses and also reduced their occupational stress.