Abstract Detail

Abstract

Background: The shortage of nurses is becoming a global challenge. In China, undergraduate education is an essential part of nursing education. However, the low professional identity and high turnover rate within the first five years after graduation among nursing undergraduates are widespread issues. How to retain talents and stabilize the nursing teams has become an urgent problem that nursing educators have to consider. Objective: To understand the current status and influencing factors of professional identity among lower-grade nursing undergraduates, and to evaluate the effectiveness of professional social practice in enhancing the professional identity of undergraduates. Design: This study used a mixed-methods design. Setting: A school of nursing in mainland China. Participants: The second-year undergraduate nursing students (n = 74). Methods: A mixed-methods study was conducted from September to December 2023. The quantitative part included a quasi-experimental study designed with pre- and post-intervention measurements, and the qualitative part included a descriptive qualitative study with semi-structured group interviews. Results: Quantitative data showed that after the course, the professional identity of nursing undergraduates who participated in the course (n=40) improved significantly (P<0.05), while that of those who did not participate in the course (n=34) did not change significantly (P>0.05). Qualitative analysis yielded three categories: the category of “Factors influencing nursing professional identity” included 3 themes (Personal or family factors; Educational factors; Social factors), the category of “The positive role of professional social practice in enhancing professional identity” included 4 themes (Improved career awareness; Increased interest; Broadened professional horizons; Transformed professional attitude), and the category of “Career expectations” included 4 themes (Personal value; Salary package; Career security; Social recognition). Conclusion: The professional identity of nursing undergraduates is greatly influenced by external factors such as education and society. Professional social practice teaching has a positive impact on the formation of professional identity among nursing undergraduates. We recommend strengthening the collaboration between schools and practical places such as hospitals, communities, and welfare institutions to provide nursing undergraduates with more practical opportunities, enabling them to deeply understand how their personal values are embodied in clinical nursing. At the same time, efforts should be made to enhance the development of the discipline and improve the social recognition of the nursing profession and the social status of nurses, thereby attracting and retaining more outstanding nursing talents. Keywords: Undergraduate nursing education; Professional identity; Professional social practice; Mixed-methods

Biography

Haiyue You, female, 24,  a second-year master's student at the School of Nursing Fudan University. The main research field is nursing education. Haiyue You has submitted a paper that won the third prize for research papers at the "Medical Education Forum (2023)" in China which is accepted by the Chinese Journal of Medical Education and awaiting formal publication.