Background The prolonged COVID‐19 pandemic has undoubtedly affected the nursing profession in numerous ways, including professional identity. Despite this, little is known about nurses’ perception of professional identity throughout this period. Therefore, this study aimed to understand the nursing professional identity during the prolonged COVID‐19 pandemic. Method This phenomenological study involved the selection of 29 nurses through purposive sampling. A topic guide was employed to collect data through four focus group discussions and nine semistructured individual interviews with nurses in China between July and December 2021. Data were analyzed using Colaizzi’s method and Quirkos software. This study complies with the COREQ checklist for qualitative research reports. Results Three main themes, each with subthemes, were extracted from the data: (1) changeable professional identity; (2) gaps between self and social perception; and (3) factors influencing professional identity. The changeable professional identity emerged into two subthemes: “like a mirage” and non‐nursing tasks, while the gaps between self and social perceptions theme included three subthemes: social stereotypes and self‐perceptions of nursing responsibility, perception of the value of nurses, and conflicting identity. Besides, the factors influencing professional identity resulted in three subthemes: autonomy, the discrepancy between ideal and practice, and trust and support. Conclusions This study demonstrated the dynamic nature of professional identity, which is influenced by multiple factors. Although public image impacts nursing professional identity, this study suggests nursing managers also pay attention to other elements that affect professional identity over the long term and establish strategies to enhance and sustain it.
Hanum et al. (Thu,) studied this question.