Exploring the transition and professional socialisation from health care assistant to student nurse

Minimal research is available examining the socialisation process from the perspective of students with health care knowledge who prior to undertaking their training worked as a health care assistant (HCA). The transition and professional socialisation process undertaken by students is an important factor in contributing to the successful completion of a pre-registration nursing programme. Despite this, limited empirical research explores the impact prior health care knowledge plays in this process.

The studies aim was to determine the transitional processes associated with moving from a HCA to Student Nurse.

A descriptive qualitative study undertaken over an 8-month period at a university in the northeast of England.

A homogeneous sample of 14 students with previous experience as a HCA within the field of adult nursing was used.

Data were collected through 4 focus group interviews and analysed using [Burnard, P., 1991. A method of analysing interview transcripts in qualitative research. Nurse Education Today 11, 461-466.] thematic content analysis.

The main themes that emerged around culture shock and clinical issues identified both positive and negative perceptions upon this process. Equally a new concept is introduced from the findings, that of 'the comfort zone', which explores the intentional reversal into the HCA role by the participants of the study. From the findings a framework for the transition and professional socialisation from HCA to student nurse is provided. The findings will assist the university and others in identifying, addressing and aiding the socialisation needs of these students into their new role as a student nurse.