Professional Identity Formation: A Concept Analysis

Abstract

Purpose: Becoming and being a nurse is vaguely conceptualized, so it is important for nurses to understand the defining attributes, antecedents, consequences, model cases, and empirical referents of professional identity with the aim of better understanding the process of its formation. Method: Walker and Avant’s (2005) method is used to guide this concept analysis of professional identity. Findings: The analysis indicated that formation of professional identity in nursing consists of three main themes: individual characteristics, becoming a nurse, and professional identity. This article explores our understanding of the concept in relation to the current literature, and a research study conducted with new graduate nurses on their experiences of becoming and being nurses. Conclusions: An enhanced understanding of professional identity and its formation in the context of nursing practice could help to improve retention of new nurses, and address the academic-practice gap by informing how nursing education and practice settings can better prepare and support new graduates in becoming and being nurses. Implications: A model case, borderline case, and contrary case of professional identity are provided and supported by examples from new graduate nurses describing their experiences of becoming and being a nurse. Understanding professional identity can inform nursing education, policy, practice, and future research.