I Fagerberg1, M Kihlgren. 1. Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Occupational Therapy and Elderly Care Research, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. ifg@mdh.se
Abstract
RATIONALE: The professional identity and experiences of nurses have been focused upon in different studies AIM: This is a longitudinal study whose aim was to understand how nurses experience the meaning of their identity as nurses, when they are students and nurses 2 years after graduation. DESIGN: Data were collected through interviews once a year during education and two years after graduation, and were analysed using a phenomenological hermeneutic method, inspired by the philosophy of Paul Ricoeur. FINDINGS: The analyses of the narratives resulted in four perspectives: 'Having the patient in focus', 'Being a team leader', 'Preceptorship' and 'Task orientation'. The nurses did not change perspectives but the perspective showed a transition over time. CONCLUSION: The nurses' not changing perspective over time is understood as being a life paradigm, remaining throughout the years.
RATIONALE: The professional identity and experiences of nurses have been focused upon in different studies AIM: This is a longitudinal study whose aim was to understand how nurses experience the meaning of their identity as nurses, when they are students and nurses 2 years after graduation. DESIGN: Data were collected through interviews once a year during education and two years after graduation, and were analysed using a phenomenological hermeneutic method, inspired by the philosophy of Paul Ricoeur. FINDINGS: The analyses of the narratives resulted in four perspectives: 'Having the patient in focus', 'Being a team leader', 'Preceptorship' and 'Task orientation'. The nurses did not change perspectives but the perspective showed a transition over time. CONCLUSION: The nurses' not changing perspective over time is understood as being a life paradigm, remaining throughout the years.