“Discover the meaning of professionalism”: nursing alumni experience on professional identity: a phenomenology study

Abstract

Introduction: Professional identity is nursing education institutions’ main goal that influences self-perception on the profession’s job responsibilities, roles, and characteristics due to professional socialization. However, integrating professional identity to nursing career’s alumni of Bachelor Nursing Program Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta remains limited to explore. This study aims to explore the Bachelor nursing alumni’s lived experience integrating professional identity into their careers in Indonesia. Methods: A phenomenological approach was used in this study, along with a maximum variation sampling technique. There are seventeen nursing alumni recruited who had been working as professionals in various nursing careers. The data was collected by a semi-structured interview between 60-90 minutes through video calls on WhatsApp. Data analysis was used Colaizzi’s methods and Nvivo 12™ Plus. Results: Three themes emerged from data; 1) Discover the meaning of professionalism, with three sub-themes: fulfill professional qualification, having expertise, and apply theory into practice; 2) Internalization Islamic values & beliefs, with four sub-themes: caring, having Islamic spirituality, giving excellence, and responsibility; 3) Awareness worked as a professional, with four-subthemes passionate, multitasking, independence, and apply soft skills. Conclusion: Nursing alumni integrated nursing professionalism into their identity—incorporation of professional identity impacts personal and professional image and boosted nurses’ careers.