| The nursing industry faces tremendous growth in the coming years, as over one million new nurses will be needed to combat the current shortage and enable the healthcare industry to function at an acceptable level. To investigate how nursing students are socialized into the nursing profession in order to meet this demand, data were gathered from baccalaureate students, faculty members, and recent graduates of one Midwestern nursing school using an interpretive, mixed method approach with a longitudinal panel design.This study found nursing faculty members to be primary agents of socialization, familiarizing students with the profession through messages regarding professional responsibility, inherent challenges, and required commitment. A revised model of the socialization process for nursing students is contrasted with the traditional three-phase model of anticipatory socialization, encounter, and metamorphosis. Also discussed are nursing students' communication skills, as well as what they are taught about professional nurse communication. |
