Crystallization of the professional self: a concentrated, senior clinical experience

Senior baccalaureate nursing students (N = 10) just weeks away from graduation volunteered to participate in a concentrated clinical experience being offered at a large urban medical center new to them. Students worked with a preceptor for five consecutive 8-hour evening shifts on one of four general medical-surgical units, a pediatric unit, or an ambulatory surgery unit. Students lived in the hospital in available patient rooms for that week. A week after the experience, students participated in a focus group designed to elicit feedback about their experiences. Content analysis revealed that the two major categories that comprised the Crystallization of the Professional Self were (1) validating professional identity and (2) viewing the culture of work. This consolidated experience resulted in changes in self-image and in role expectations.