Being and becoming a nurse: Toward an ontological and reflexive turn in first-year nursing education

In this paper, we call for an ontological and reflexive turn in first-year nursing education. An ontological turn focuses on formation, the 'being' and 'becoming' of a nurse, and emphasizes the value of nursing knowledge. First-year nursing students often possess romanticized ideals about being a nurse that devalues the knowledge and expertise of nurses. We posit a thoughtful ontological orientation within nursing education that shifts the emphasis toward becoming skillful nurses, with expertise grounded in nursing perspectives. A focus on formation includes discussions regarding ideologies, dominant perspectives, and reflexive explorations of students' views of nursing juxtaposed with the realities of nursing practice. We propose ontologic reflexivity as an approach to consider what perspectives are prioritized (or not) within the nursing classroom. Within pedagogical dialogic spaces, ontologic reflexivity calls on educators to create opportunities for students to learn the value of nursing knowledge along with other forms of knowledge. We consider ways in which an ontological and reflexive turn within the first year of nursing education may contribute to the formation of nursing students who value nursing knowledge, are open-minded to various forms of knowledge, and possess an intentional reflexive way of being.