Iranian nurses´ perceptions of their professional growth and development

Change in today's healthcare settings is inevitable. Professional growth and development are essential in order to remain a viable member of the healthcare team. Although the importance of professional growth and development is emphasized in the literature, the associated outcomes of professional development have not been fully described. In this article the authors present a qualitative study in which 21 Iranian nurses, whose years of nursing experienced ranged from 3 to 28 years, shared the perceptions of their professional development and growth. In reporting the study findings the authors discuss how these nurses described their skill and psychosocial development within the themes of developing judgment, improving communication, instilling confidence, seeing the whole patient, and strengthening commitment to nursing.