Related Experiment Videos
A longitudinal study of student and experienced nurses' self-concept
Leanne S Cowin1, Rhonda G Craven, Maree Johnson
1School of Nursing, University of Western Sydney, New South Wales. l.cowin@uws.edu.au
Collegian (Royal College of Nursing, Australia)
|October 14, 2006
Summary
New nurses
Area of Science:
- Nursing
- Psychology
- Professional Identity
Background:
- Nurse retention is a critical issue.
- Professional identity and self-concept are key factors.
- Limited research exists on nurse self-concept development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare self-concept development in graduate and experienced nurses.
- To utilize advances in self-concept theory and measurement.
- To identify and contrast specific nursing self-concept domains.
Main Methods:
- Administered the Self Description Questionnaire III and Nurses Self-Concept Questionnaire.
- Collected data from student nurses (N=506) and experienced nurses (N=528).
- Measured self-concept at two time points for both groups.
Main Results:
- Graduate nurses initially had lower self-concept than experienced nurses.
- Graduate nurses' Nurse General Self-Concept declined from student to graduate level.
- Some graduate self-concept domains improved by 8 months but remained lower than experienced nurses.
Conclusions:
- Empirical evidence clarifies nurse self-concept development.
- Graduate nurses require monitoring and support for self-concept enhancement.
- Interventions should target new graduates' Nurse General Self-Concept.
Related Concept Videos
01:19Self-Concept
Self-concept is the cognitive and emotional understanding individuals hold about their identity. It evolves through various developmental stages, beginning in infancy and maturing as children grow. This concept influences how individuals perceive their abilities, interact with others, and manage challenges throughout life.
Infancy and Emerging Recognition
During infancy, self-concept is virtually nonexistent. Babies do not distinguish themselves as separate entities and often mistake their...
Infancy and Emerging Recognition
During infancy, self-concept is virtually nonexistent. Babies do not distinguish themselves as separate entities and often mistake their...
01:20Understanding Self-Concept
The self-concept encompasses individuals' beliefs about themselves, structured through cognitive frameworks known as self-schemas. These schemas function as mental representations of specific traits or behaviors, influencing how self-relevant information is perceived, processed, and remembered. For example, individuals who are schematic for body weight are more likely to interpret routine experiences—such as dining out or shopping—through the lens of that trait. Conversely, those aschematic for...
02:57The Sense of Self: Reflected Self-Appraisal and Social Comparison
According to Charles Cooley, we base our image on what we think other people see (Cooley 1902). We imagine how we must appear to others, then react to this speculation. We don certain clothes, prepare our hair in a particular manner, wear makeup, use cologne, and the like—all with the notion that our presentation of ourselves is going to affect how others perceive us. We expect a certain reaction, and, if lucky, we get the one we desire and feel good about it. But more than that, Cooley...
01:30Social Foundations of Self III: Self-Evaluation
Self-evaluation is the process by which individuals assess their abilities, behaviors, and characteristics based on feedback from others. Charles H. Cooley observed that a person’s self-perception is primarily influenced by how others see and judge them. He suggested that individuals form their identities based on their interpretations of others' reactions. As a result, social interactions play a crucial role in shaping self-esteem and personal identity. These external evaluations often blend...
03:00Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification
Social psychologists have documented that feeling good about ourselves and maintaining positive self-esteem is a powerful motivator of human behavior (Tavris & Aronson, 2008). In the United States, members of the predominant culture typically think very highly of themselves and view themselves as good people who are above average on many desirable traits (Ehrlinger, Gilovich, & Ross, 2005). Often, our behavior, attitudes, and beliefs are affected when we experience a threat to our...
01:28Self-Esteem
Self-esteem, a core aspect of psychological well-being, reflects an individual's positive and negative self-evaluation in terms of worth, competence, and overall value. It is both a stable trait and a dynamic process, influenced by experiences and social interactions across the lifespan. While global self-esteem offers a general assessment, research highlights that self-esteem is multidimensional and varies across specific life domains.Domain-Specific Self-EsteemResearchers have delineated...