Factors Affecting the Evolution of Professional Identity from Nursing Student to Registered Nurse: A Longitudinal Trajectory Analysis

BACKGROUND: Nursing students' transition to a professional nurse identity is critical to their sense of belonging and choices to remain in the profession. Clinical learning offers real-time experiences that underpin the development of professional identity in nursing students. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify the trajectories of change in professional identity and their predictors among undergraduate nursing students during clinical learning. METHODS: This was a longitudinal study in which participants completed 4 clinical surveys during the clinical learning period. Results were analyzed using latent growth modeling and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: All participants reported a decline in perceived professional identity throughout clinical learning, while 3 heterogeneous trajectory patterns also emerged. CONCLUSIONS: This innovative study is the first of its kind to identify specific groups that inform temporally based support and intervention mechanisms that could enhance the nursing student's experience during clinical learning.