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A longitudinal study of student and experienced nurses' self-concept.
Cowin, Leanne S. Craven, Rhonda G. Johnson, Maree Marsh, Herbert W.
Cowin, Leanne S.
Craven, Rhonda G.
Johnson, Maree
Marsh, Herbert W.
Abstract
Researchers continue to emphasise the importance of professional identity or nurses' self-concept in the retention debate, although limited research has been undertaken on this specific issue. The purpose of this study was to capitalise upon recent advances in self-concept theory and measurement to identify, compare, and contrast the development of self-concept for graduate and experienced nurses.
The Self Description Questionnaire III was used to assess four areas of general self-concept and a newly developed Nurses Self-Concept Questionnaire was used to assess six domains of self-concept specific to nursing. Student nurses completed instrumentation during their final year of a University course (N=506) and 6 months after graduation (N=110). Experienced nurses completed instrumentation at the end of the year (N=528) and eight months later (N=332).
The results revealed that graduate self-concept was lower than experienced nurse self-concept in most domains at initial measurement (Time 1). Whilst some graduate self-concept domains demonstrated a rise in mean scores at eight months (Time 2), scores remained significantly lower overall than those of experienced nurses. The domain of Nurse General Self-Concept had fallen significantly from the student to graduate experience. Little change in the self-concept domains occurred over time for the experienced nurse group. The results provide valuable empirical evidence elucidating the development of nurses' self-concept. Key implications include the need to monitor self-concept development in graduate nurses and develop strategies for self-concept enhancement particularly for new graduates' Nurse General Self-Concept.
Keywords
nurses’ self-concept, self-concept measurement, self-concept development, leadership, graduate nurses
Date
2006
Type
Journal article
Journal
Collegian
Book
Volume
13
Issue
3
Page Range
25-31
Article Number
ACU Department
Institute for Positive Psychology and Education
Faculty of Education and Arts
Faculty of Education and Arts
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
License
All rights reserved
File Access
Controlled