Transforming your professional self: encouraging lifelong personal and professional growth.

Transforming from student nurse to registered nurse is often discussed in a capstone class or a hospital orientation program. Changes in professional plans later in the career continuum often occur, but are not always planned. This article discusses the challenges of change, the need for career planning, stages of role acquisition, role socialization, and role transformation. In addition, it outlines the importance of creating a career plan to meet future career goals.