Epidemic-induced changes in nursing students’ professional identity: a qualitative investigation
ObjectiveTo explore the impact and mechanisms of COVID-19 on the professional identity of nursing students, providing theoretical and practical insights to inform nursing education reform.MethodThis study employed Colaizzi’s descriptive phenomenological method to explore nursing students’ experience...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-05-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1565212/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850037188998201344 |
|---|---|
| author | Huiting Zhang Wenhao He Dan Cao Jiali Liu Yongfeng Yang Xiaoli Zhu Mengxiao Jiang |
| author_facet | Huiting Zhang Wenhao He Dan Cao Jiali Liu Yongfeng Yang Xiaoli Zhu Mengxiao Jiang |
| author_sort | Huiting Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ObjectiveTo explore the impact and mechanisms of COVID-19 on the professional identity of nursing students, providing theoretical and practical insights to inform nursing education reform.MethodThis study employed Colaizzi’s descriptive phenomenological method to explore nursing students’ experiences. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and data collection continued until information saturation was achieved. Data analysis followed Colaizzi’s seven-step approach: (1) reading all participants’ descriptions to gain a general understanding, (2) extracting significant statements, (3) formulating meanings from these statements, (4) organizing formulated meanings into clusters of themes, (5) developing an exhaustive description, (6) refining the description into a fundamental structure, and (7) validating the findings by returning to participants for feedback. A socialization theory framework was applied to analyze relationships between themes and clarify the mechanisms underlying professional identity development.ResultsFrom March 1 to March 13, 2023, 21 nursing students from seven medical schools in Guangdong Province participated in the research. The findings showed that nursing students’ professional identity, initially medium or low before the epidemic, significantly improved afterward. Three key themes related to professional identity improvement were identified based on socialization theory: (1) Social Practice Experience: Activities such as volunteer services and pandemic prevention education promote role affirmation, meaningful engagement, and a strong professional mission. (2) Role Model Observation: Observing frontline healthcare workers enhances professional honor and role expectations. (3) Social Comparison and Evaluation: Positive feedback from media, family, and peers encourages respect and enthusiasm for nursing.ConclusionThe COVID-19 pandemic markedly improved nursing students’ professional identity, providing insights for education and career development. To strengthen nursing education, it is advised to emphasize disaster response training, integrate role model examples, and utilize social recognition to foster students’ professional identity and commitment. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-978c396362d44ae39299936e9a5edab1 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-978c396362d44ae39299936e9a5edab12025-08-20T02:56:55ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-05-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.15652121565212Epidemic-induced changes in nursing students’ professional identity: a qualitative investigationHuiting Zhang0Wenhao He1Dan Cao2Jiali Liu3Yongfeng Yang4Xiaoli Zhu5Mengxiao Jiang6Department of Breast Cancer, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Orthopedic Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Breast Cancer, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Radiotherapy, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Anesthesiology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Nursing,Guangzhou Institute of Cancer Research, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Urology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Centeer for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, ChinaObjectiveTo explore the impact and mechanisms of COVID-19 on the professional identity of nursing students, providing theoretical and practical insights to inform nursing education reform.MethodThis study employed Colaizzi’s descriptive phenomenological method to explore nursing students’ experiences. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and data collection continued until information saturation was achieved. Data analysis followed Colaizzi’s seven-step approach: (1) reading all participants’ descriptions to gain a general understanding, (2) extracting significant statements, (3) formulating meanings from these statements, (4) organizing formulated meanings into clusters of themes, (5) developing an exhaustive description, (6) refining the description into a fundamental structure, and (7) validating the findings by returning to participants for feedback. A socialization theory framework was applied to analyze relationships between themes and clarify the mechanisms underlying professional identity development.ResultsFrom March 1 to March 13, 2023, 21 nursing students from seven medical schools in Guangdong Province participated in the research. The findings showed that nursing students’ professional identity, initially medium or low before the epidemic, significantly improved afterward. Three key themes related to professional identity improvement were identified based on socialization theory: (1) Social Practice Experience: Activities such as volunteer services and pandemic prevention education promote role affirmation, meaningful engagement, and a strong professional mission. (2) Role Model Observation: Observing frontline healthcare workers enhances professional honor and role expectations. (3) Social Comparison and Evaluation: Positive feedback from media, family, and peers encourages respect and enthusiasm for nursing.ConclusionThe COVID-19 pandemic markedly improved nursing students’ professional identity, providing insights for education and career development. To strengthen nursing education, it is advised to emphasize disaster response training, integrate role model examples, and utilize social recognition to foster students’ professional identity and commitment.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1565212/fullCOVID-19nursing studentsprofessional identityqualitative researchsocialization theory |
| spellingShingle | Huiting Zhang Wenhao He Dan Cao Jiali Liu Yongfeng Yang Xiaoli Zhu Mengxiao Jiang Epidemic-induced changes in nursing students’ professional identity: a qualitative investigation Frontiers in Public Health COVID-19 nursing students professional identity qualitative research socialization theory |
| title | Epidemic-induced changes in nursing students’ professional identity: a qualitative investigation |
| title_full | Epidemic-induced changes in nursing students’ professional identity: a qualitative investigation |
| title_fullStr | Epidemic-induced changes in nursing students’ professional identity: a qualitative investigation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Epidemic-induced changes in nursing students’ professional identity: a qualitative investigation |
| title_short | Epidemic-induced changes in nursing students’ professional identity: a qualitative investigation |
| title_sort | epidemic induced changes in nursing students professional identity a qualitative investigation |
| topic | COVID-19 nursing students professional identity qualitative research socialization theory |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1565212/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT huitingzhang epidemicinducedchangesinnursingstudentsprofessionalidentityaqualitativeinvestigation AT wenhaohe epidemicinducedchangesinnursingstudentsprofessionalidentityaqualitativeinvestigation AT dancao epidemicinducedchangesinnursingstudentsprofessionalidentityaqualitativeinvestigation AT jialiliu epidemicinducedchangesinnursingstudentsprofessionalidentityaqualitativeinvestigation AT yongfengyang epidemicinducedchangesinnursingstudentsprofessionalidentityaqualitativeinvestigation AT xiaolizhu epidemicinducedchangesinnursingstudentsprofessionalidentityaqualitativeinvestigation AT mengxiaojiang epidemicinducedchangesinnursingstudentsprofessionalidentityaqualitativeinvestigation |