Faculty's Perceptions of their Role and Institution in Professional Socialization of Nursing Students in Iran, 2008.

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Professional socialization is the process by which individuals acquire and internalize the specialized knowledge, skills, attitudes, values, norms, and interests needed to perform their professional roles acceptably. Many factors impact this process including the educational setting, the role modeling of the faculty, and the support of peers. This study, based on bandura's social learning theory and concept of professional socialization, investigates these factors, and how they are operationalized in nursing programs of Iran from point of view of nurse educators. Method: A descriptive design was conducted among 270 nurse educators to understand their personal characteristics, teaching behaviors, teaching methods and professional attitudes also nursing programs and institution practices related to professional socialization of nursing students. Data were collected in 2008 by mailing the Hall's professional Inventory and a specifically designed questionnaire to nurse educators in 23 universities that selected by randomize sampling method, from 51 medical science state universities in Iran. Findings: Overall, the results of this study illustrated that nursing educators and nursing schools as the most effective factors on successful professional socialization process, are not in desirable situation and it is distance from idealistic status of professional nursing education. Conclusion: The professional socialization is a necessary process but it has not been clearly defined. This knowledge may be help to nursing educational managers and educators to improve status of nursing profession and extremely health care delivery system in our country.