Effectiveness of A Psychosocial Intervention Program Based on Career Self-Efficacy Theory in Improving Professional Identity Among Nursing Interns: A Pre-Post Quasi-Experimental Study

Abstract

Background: Professional identity (PI) forms the foundation of nursing practice and critically influences career adaptability, especially for interns transitioning from students to nurses. Developing effective interventions to enhance PI in this group is essential. Aim: To design a PI intervention program for nursing interns and evaluate its effectiveness. Methods: A quasi-experimental pre-post study was conducted with 116 nursing interns from a tertiary hospital in China (September-December 2021). The intervention, grounded in career self-efficacy theory, incorporated mastery/vicarious experiences, social persuasion, and emotional regulation. Implemented every ten days over three mid-internship months, effectiveness was assessed using paired t-tests. Results: The total score for the PI scale increased from 61.03 (10.45) points to 70.48 (8.30) points ( P<0.001). Similar significant increases were observed in the scores of all five dimensions of the scale. Conclusions: The PI intervention program was effective in improving the level of PI among nursing interns. Future randomized controlled trials with longer follow-ups are needed to provide robust evidence on its long-term effectiveness before its wide application in nursing education and training.

Keywords

Nursing interns / Professional identity / Career self-efficacy theory / Role model education / Pre-post intervention

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