Personality development during nursing education--a Swedish study

The aim of the study was to explore personality development during nursing education. The sample consisted of 122 Swedish nursing students. Ninety-three per cent of the students were female and the mean age at the beginning of the nursing education (which lasts for two years) was 27.6 years. Personality inventories were administered at the beginning and end of the education. The post-education assessment rendered several statistically significant differences of means. Compared with the pre-education assessment, the nursing students reported a more positive profession-oriented self-perception at the end of the education, a stronger ideal, real, and mirror identity, a reduced trait anxiety, stronger needs for achievement, exhibition, autonomy, dominance, and nurturance, and a weaker abasement need. The practical significance of the results was discussed.