Background

See how nursing leaders from around the country are working together to define professional identity in nursing.

In 2018, in answer to the growing need for professional identity formation in nursing in education, regulation and practice, 50 industry leaders from the U.S. and Canada gathered to understand and operationalize professional identity and professional identity formation. The need for knowledge and language about professional identity in nursing extends beyond those in the industry.

From the Think Tanks, the International Society for Professional Identity in Nursing was born. Its initiative is to conduct research into professional identity and develop materials that can be used to communicate their findings to the healthcare community and the world at large.

Domains of Professional Identity in Nursing

Think tank participants scientifically identified four domains and their definitions. It is essential to note that these definitions and domains are not historical; 21st-century nurses constructed them. Together, they provide a shared language to describe contemporary Professional Identity in Nursing. This language offers more structure and ease in teaching and communicating with nurses, patients, families, and society.

  • A set of core values and principles that guide conduct.

  • Analysis and application of information derived from nursing and other disciplines, experiences, critical reflection and scientific discovery. 

  • Inspiring self and others to transform a shared vision into reality.

  • A nurse’s professional behavior demonstrated through words, actions and presence.