Using the hidden curriculum to teach professionalism in nursing students

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Professionalism in Healthcare
• Hidden Curriculum Studies

Background:

• Professionalism is essential for nursing credibility and public image.
• The hidden curriculum plays a significant role in shaping nursing students' professional identity.
• Understanding the impact of informal learning is crucial in nursing education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To elucidate the role of the hidden curriculum in imparting professionalism to nursing students.
• To identify the diverse methods and resources through which nursing students learn professional behaviors.
• To analyze the influence of the hidden curriculum on the development of professional elements in nursing.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving 32 nursing students.
• Purposeful sampling strategy to select participants.
• Semi-structured interviews and content analysis to gather and analyze data until saturation.

Main Results:

• Three primary themes emerged: understanding professionalism elements, influenceability strategies, and influenceability to various resources.
• Students acquired professionalism through varied methods and resources, largely influenced by the hidden curriculum.
• Subthemes within each main theme provided deeper insights into the learning process.

Conclusions:

• Nursing students learn professionalism elements via diverse channels within the hidden curriculum.
• The study highlights the significant, albeit often implicit, role of the hidden curriculum in professional development.
• Exploration and potential optimization of existing hidden curricula in nursing programs are recommended.