The Evolution of a Professional Identity as Perceived by Saudi Student Nurses

The professional identity of student nurses may fluctuate or even disintegrate when exposed to clinical realities. A self-identity must be integrated firstly with new expectations and modified within a social context to form a professional identity. In the process of developing a professional identity, student nurses either develop a self-concept within a professional role based on attributes, beliefs, values, motives, experiences, morals and ideals of who and what a nurse is, or lack to develop in this role. This study targeted to investigate the perceptions of Saudi student nurses in the evolution of a professional identity. A non-probabilistic and descriptive approach was selected for data collection. A Nurses Professional Identity Scale was constructed by the researcher to explore the evolution of a professional identity as perceived by Saudi student nurses. Mean scores indicated the importance of the self-presentation, self-image, self-esteem, self-categorization and self-concept as dimensions, which facilitates a professional identity. The p-values obtained for all the factors were less than the level of significance (p-value<0.05), which indicated the importance of all the associated factors. The significance of how student nurses identify themselves as professionals during the Baccaulearate program in various role formation has been emphasized. These roles are still undervalued by society and influences stereotypical attitudes.