The impact of transition shocks on career aspirations during nursing internships: A moderated mediated effects model

During the transition from theoretical learning to clinical practice, nursing students frequently experience substantial transitional stress, potentially undermining their professional aspirations and even leading to turnover intentions. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Therefore, exploring effective coping strategies and guiding nursing students in developing sound professional values are critical for enhancing their career stability.

To investigate whether occupational stigma moderates the mediating effect of nursing students' sense of occupational respect on the relationship between transition shock and career aspirations.

This was a cross-sectional study employing a moderated mediation model.

A total of 408 undergraduate nursing students from a university in Zhejiang, China, participated in this study.

Participants were surveyed using the Occupational Stigma Scale, the Nurses' Sense of Occupational Respect Scale, the Career Ambition Scale, and the Transition Shock Scale.

Sense of occupational respect partially mediated the relationship between transition shock and career aspirations. Additionally, occupational stigma moderated the relationship between transition shock and sense of occupational respect. Specifically, nursing students who perceived lower levels of occupational stigma showed a stronger correlation between transition shock and occupational respect.

This study clarifies the mechanisms involved in the relationship between transition shock and career aspirations among nursing students during practical training. These findings may assist in reducing transition shock during clinical practice and enhancing nursing students' career aspirations.