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In “The Nurse Leader’s Role: A Conduit for Professional…
In “The Nurse Leader’s Role: A Conduit for Professional Identity Formation and Sustainability,” M. Lindell Joseph et al. defines a professional identity in nursing as, “a sense of oneself, in relationship with others, that is influenced by characteristics, norms and values of the nursing discipline, resulting in an individual thinking, acting and feeling like a nurse.”
Think tanks organized in 2018, 2019, and 2020 identified the following domain of professional identity in nursing: values and ethics, knowledge, leadership, professional comportment. Through the think tanks and the 2020 pandemic, the role of the nurse leader as a conduit for professional identity gained recognition. Nurse leaders influence the professional identity of the nursing community and also foster the formation of a professional identity in other nurses.
In “Professional Identity in Nursing Practice,” Richard Pullen suggests several strategies to develop a professional identity, such as:
Developing a personal philosophy of nursing
Engaging in a professional organization
Obtaining advanced degrees and certifications
Seeking leadership opportunities
Projecting a professional image
The concept of a professional image may not be as familiar to you as the other strategies listed. Your professional image is what you project in a professional context, whether in person or online, and relates to how you are perceived by others. Education, experience, communication skills, demeanor, appearance, and habits, among other qualities and achievements, contribute to your professional image and how you are perceived in a professional environment.
In earlier modules, you began to articulate your professional identity by exploring your nursing values and ethics. In this assignment, you will continue to develop your professional identity by reflecting on your proficiency as a nurse. You will plan strategies for further development over time.
Prompt
Reflect on your current level of proficiency and professional identity. Then consider how these might change in the future as you assume a new role as an MSN professional nurse. Submit your professional identity journal with your reflections and strategies to build your professional identity as a future leader in the nursing profession.
Specifically, you must address the following rubric criteria:
Proficiency in Current Practice: Explain your stage of proficiency in your current BSN practice. Consider Patricia Benner’s “From Novice to Expert” model for nursing to explain your proficiency on the continuum of novice to expert. Provide the rationale for your assessment.
Change in Proficiency Entering an MSN Role: Explain how your stage of proficiency may change as you begin a new role as an MSN professional nurse. You may not be certain about your future role, but consider a role you aspire to take.
Applied Strategy to Build Your Professional Identity: Discuss one strategy from Pullen’s list above that you successfully applied in the past to build your professional identity. Explain how the strategy helped you build your professional identity.
Planned Strategy to Build Your Professional Identity: Discuss one strategy from Pullen’s list above that might help build your professional identity after your MSN program.
Fostering Professional Identities in Nursing: Explain one strategy you can use as a future nurse leader to foster the professional identities of nurses you lead. Refer to “The Nurse Leader’s Role: A Conduit for Professional Identity Formation and Sustainability” in your work.
