Final answer:
The problem statement would address the readiness of new occupational health nurses by identifying educational gaps and readiness for industry challenges in the labor market. This would include evaluating practical skills and competencies against healthcare market demands.
Step-by-step explanation:
A problem statement for a study assessing the practice readiness of newly qualified occupational health nurse specialists from a higher education institution could focus on identifying gaps in the current educational curriculum. This would help in understanding the challenges faced by these professionals as they transit from academic environments to real-world healthcare settings. By examining factors such as hands-on experience, theoretical versus practical knowledge, interprofessional collaboration skills, and up-to-date competencies, the problem statement could articulate how well-prepared the nurses are to meet the demands of the healthcare industry.
Given the labor market trends for healthcare professionals, especially nurses, the study could explore how prepared these individuals are to face the market's challenges, including the dynamics of supply and demand. Insights drawn from such a study would be critical in aligning educational outcomes with industry requirements, thus easing the transition for new occupational health nurse specialists into a potentially demanding workforce environment.