Primary socialization in the process of professional choice and identity of nurses: a Dubarian approach

Abstract

Objectives: to analyze the experiences of management nurses over the primary socialization process that contributed to their professional choice and identity. Methods: qualitative and explanatory study grounded in Dubar’s theory, carried out with 11 management nurses. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, transcribed, and categorized by applying discourse analysis. Results: the motivations for the professional choice and identity of management nurses were found. They were related to family influence in childhood, nursing representations, perception of care practices experienced in a health-related situation in the family, choice of nursing given its academic titles, lack of knowledge about the nursing profession, and assertive choice of this profession. Final Considerations: professional choice was closely linked to initial social processes in people’s lives and the idea of a socially and uniquely built professional identity.