A review on the research of professional socialization and professional identity among nurses in foreign countries

Professional identity is one of the outcomes of professional socialization, it is a process as well as a state. The literature on professional socialization is shifting from the passive or reactive role of the individual to a social interaction and construction perspective. Concept analysis on the professional identity of the nurse demonstrates that it includes personal and interpersonal dimensions and social-historical aspects. Professional identity is theorized as a multi-dimensional phenomenon with structural, social and individual-psychological components. Family, society, and educational experience, as well as reality shock, mentorship, occupational burn-out during the pro-cess of work socialization may exert influence on the formation and development of professional identity. Another focus on this topic is about the perceptions of professional identity. Study on professional identity of nurses in the socializational framework has implications on nursing education and administration.