Nursing Students’ Perceptions About the Culture of Nursing

Abstract

Abstract AIM The aim of this study was to gain students’ perspectives on the culture of nursing and their enculturation to this professional culture. BACKGROUND Newly graduated registered nurses (NGRNs) experience identity shock when transitioning to practice, at great costs to themselves and health care organizations. Understanding how nursing students view their professional culture and the enculturation process can foster professional identity formation and ameliorate NGRN identity shock. METHOD This focused ethnography study used focus groups for data collection and Leininger’s method of data analysis. RESULTS Two themes emerged: 1) descriptors of the culture of nursing and 2) influence of formal and informal learning. CONCLUSION Nursing students struggle to define the culture of nursing, contributing to challenges with the enculturation process and leading to identity shock. Intentionally addressing these challenges can help decrease identity shock, promote stronger professional nursing identity formation, and improve the transition to nursing practice.