Exploring the new characteristics of professionalism in nursing from the perspective of experts: A qualitative Study

Recently, professionalism has been identified as one of the most crucial issues in the nursing profession. Nurses consider that the primary problem that affects professionalism is the neglect of experts in defining and developing indicators of professionalism in nursing. This study examined the characteristics of professionalism in nursing from the perspective of experts.

This study is the second part of a conceptual analysis of professionalism in nursing (semi-structured interview), which was conducted using a qualitative content analysis method. The study participants consisted of 17 nursing faculty experts, three nursing managers, two head nurses, two experienced clinical nurses, two general physicians, and two hospital managers, who were recruited from six medical science universities. They were selected using purposive and snowball sampling methods, and interviewed. Data were analyzed using a deductive and directed content analysis approach.

After data analysis, 954 primary codes, 22 subcategories, and nine main categories were obtained. The main categories (characteristics of professionalism in nursing) included: "academic specialized knowledge," "continuous pursuit of competence," "adherence to ethical codes and values," "professional commitment," "accountability," "autonomy," "advocacy," "professional interaction," and "professional self-awareness." The inclusion of the "professional self-awareness" category in the literature review matrix is an innovative contribution of the present study. This addition served as the foundation for developing a new conceptual model of professionalism in nursing.

The conceptual framework developed in this study can inform policies aimed at attracting qualified individuals to the nursing profession. A clear understanding of the attributes of professionalism, particularly professional self-awareness, is essential for entering the profession. This awareness can foster persistence and job satisfaction among nurses as well as contributing to improved quality of care and enhanced client satisfaction.