THE PROFESSIONAL IDENTITY OF THE NURSE - CONCEPT ANALYSIS AND DEVELOPMENT

The aim of this paper is to highlight the concept of professional iden tity of the nurse in order to promote theoretical clarity and examine implications for nursing practice. A modification of the hybrid model for concept development was followed. Accordingly, die theoretical ana lysis of conceptualizations and corresponding theoretical frameworks w ere combined with empirical data gathered from the held, from semi-str uctured interviews with eight registered nurses. The sampling was stra tegic and continuous. Personal and interpersonal dimensions and socio- historical aspects of the concept were found in the literature review as well as in the interview data. Attributes, antecedents and conseque nces of professional identity of the nurse in relation to the identifi ed dimensions were stated. The analysis ends with a comprehensive desc ription of the concept. Further, the relations to the concepts of self -esteem, self-image, professionalism and professional self-image, as w ell as professional function and roles of the nurse, are outlined. Fin ally, the importance of the developed concept is discussed, and sugges tions for further research are presented.