Understanding perceptions of nursing professional identity in students entering an Australian undergraduate nursing degree.
Developing a professional identity is an essential transition for nursing students as they move through their undergraduate degree. Professional identity is described as a person's perception of themselves within a profession or the collective identity of the profession. The formation of a professional identity is an evolving process, shaped by the media, educational experiences and role modelling. The aim of this study was to develop a greater understanding of the perceptions that students, about to embark on their undergraduate nursing degree, had of the nursing profession. A drawing and mind mapping exercise was conducted with a convenience sample of commencing nursing students to explore how they viewed their future profession. The data underwent thematic analysis and then grouped into sub themes and themes. Four key themes were identified, 'To be a nurse, I have to look the part' 'To be a nurse, I have to perform in a variety of roles' 'To be a nurse, I have to connect with others' and 'To be a nurse, I have to care for myself. The formation of a strong pre professional identity is important for nursing students due to the link between future job satisfaction and the development of a robust nursing workforce.
Nurse education in practice