Nursing Professionalism, As Perceived By Nurses From Different Generations In Türkiye: A Qualitative Study

Background Nursing professionalism is a culturally embedded, dynamic, and multidimensional concept. It is well established that nursing professionalism is associated with years of service, workplace experiences, and age. In this context, the perspectives of nurses from different generations and with varying levels of experience provide unique insights into professionalization in nursing. Objective This study explored the perspectives of clinically experienced nurses from different generations regarding nursing professionalism, with the goal of contributing to its development and offering practice implications specific to Turkish society. Method A descriptive phenomenological design, one of the qualitative research approaches, was adopted. Maximum variation sampling was used to ensure a heterogeneous sample. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 35 nurses from different generations working in private, public, and university hospitals in Istanbul, Türkiye’s most populous city, between November 2020 and April 2021. Data were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach, supported by MAXQDA software. Results The themes identified were education; scientific knowledge and its applicability; professional organization; societal perceptions of nursing; autonomy; and professional ethics. Conclusion This study provides insight into the current state of professionalization in nursing from the perspectives of nurses across different generations in Turkish society. It highlights the key aspects emphasized and most frequently articulated by each generation. Implications for nursing practice and clinical relevance: The perspectives of nurses from different generations may provide valuable guidance for aligning and strengthening the compatibility between existing models of nursing professionalism and diverse cultural contexts. Global recognition of nursing as a fully professional discipline can only be achieved through research findings and context-sensitive solutions that actively engage nurses, stakeholders, and societies across different countries.