New graduate nurses encounter stress during the transition period when entering professional practice. Transition from academic setting to work setting is challenging and requires personal adjustment and role socialization. Support from a preceptor may facilitate transition and role socialization. The purpose of this study is to examine changes during accommodation stage of orientation for new graduate nurses from initial employment to 3 months and 6 months of employment. The framework is based on Modified Contingency Theory (Boyles et al., 1996). The study will take place in three midsized community hospitals in central Indiana. The anticipated sample will include 45 new nurses in the first 6 months of professional practice. Data will be collected on role conception which will be measured by professional boundaries, authority, and direct patient services scales. Self-confidence will be measured by an eight item investigator - developed scale while affective responses will be measured by Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (1977). Commitment and job satisfaction will be evaluated by Price and Mueller's commitment scale (1986), and confronting reality will be measured by Rizzo et a1. (1970) role conflict and role ambiguity instrument. Findings will detail changes in outcome of the accommodation variables.