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Professional identity transitions, violations and reconciliations among new nurses in low- and middle-income countries

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Mbuthia, D., McGivern, Gerry, English, Mike, Brownie, S., Jackson, D., Gathara, D. and Nzinga, J. (2021) Professional identity transitions, violations and reconciliations among new nurses in low- and middle-income countries. SSM - Qualitative Research in Health, 1 . 100024. doi:10.1016/j.ssmqr.2021.100024 ISSN 2667-3215.

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmqr.2021.100024

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Abstract

We examine how new nurses construct their professional identity in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) when they enter clinical practice and encounter practical norms violating procedural standards. We conducted interviews and focus group discussions with 47 Kenyan nurses. We describe new nurses experiencing ‘shock’ entering nursing practice (working and learning alone while responsible for many patients and doing ‘dirty work’), which contrasted with their idealized image and expectations of nursing and prior training. We explain this transition using theory about identity and identity work, which we argue elucidates nurses' experiences in LMICs. We suggest that nurses' transition into clinical practice violated pre-existing expectations for their professional identities, which then triggered identity work of ‘toughening up’, ‘maturing through experience’, and ‘learning practical norms’. Through this identity work, and finally experiencing satisfaction from caring for and nursing patients back to health, some nurses were able to restore their valued professional identity.

Item Type: Journal Article
Subjects: R Medicine > RT Nursing
Divisions: Faculty of Social Sciences > Warwick Business School
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): Nurses, Nurses -- Kenya, Nurses -- Attitudes, Nurses -- Job satisfaction -- Kenya, Nurses -- Job stress -- Kenya, Nursing ethics, Nursing -- Kenya, Nursing -- Practice -- Kenya, Nursing -- Psychological aspects , Nursing -- Social aspects -- Kenya, Nursing -- Vocational guidance -- Kenya
Journal or Publication Title: SSM - Qualitative Research in Health
Publisher: Elsevier
ISSN: 2667-3215
Official Date: 1 December 2021
Dates:
DateEvent
1 December 2021Published
28 November 2021Accepted
Volume: 1
Article Number: 100024
DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmqr.2021.100024
Status: Peer Reviewed
Publication Status: Published
Access rights to Published version: Restricted or Subscription Access
Date of first compliant deposit: 2 December 2021
Date of first compliant Open Access: 3 December 2021
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