Key enablers and barriers to ICU nurses' professional identity: a qualitative study.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To explore the key enablers and barriers influencing the professional identity among Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurses.

Methods

This is a qualitative study that employed a purposive sampling approach and was conducted in the intensive care units (excluding pediatric ICUs) of two tertiary hospitals in Chengdu, China. One-on-one, semi-structured in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with 37 ICU nurses. The Ecological Systems Theory (EST) provided the theoretical framework for this study. Thematic analysis approach was used to analyze the data.

Results

We developed four themes to explain the qualitative data: Individual Motivation and Achievement System (IMAS), Team Collaboration and Support System (TCSS), Technology and Societal Support System (TSSS),

SUBMITTER: Tang T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12660275 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature