Related Experiment Videos
The technology implications of master's level education in the professionalization of nursing: A narrative inquiry
Ken H M Ho1, Susan K Y Chow1, Vico C L Chiang2
1School of Nursing, Tung Wah College, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Aims:
(a) To explore the meanings of master's education in the professionalization of nursing; and (b) to describe the core attributes that nurses gained through master's study.
Design:
Narrative inquiry.
Methods:
From June 2017 to June 2018, unstructured interviews were conducted with 12 master-prepared nurses at advanced nursing position with minimum 5 years of postregistration experience. Collaborative thematic narrative analysis was conducted on verbatim transcripts. Members checking, peer validation and audience validation assured verisimilitude and utility.
Results:
There was a need to fit one's own assertion for professional growth in nursing career structure. Master's study equipped nurses with specialty skills and knowledge with enhanced reflexivity, which nurtured morality, problem-solving ability and capacity to collaborate inter-professionally. Master-prepared nurses demonstrated effective clinical leadership through acting as change agents.
Conclusions:
Master's level education and master-prepared nurses are instrumental to the professionalization of nursing by expanding the roles of nurses. Nursing career mentoring will maximize nurses' agency in healthcare system. Developing innovative inter-professional pedagogy will nurture the reflexivity of master-prepared nurses.