Why Professional Identity Matters in Nursing Education
How Nurse Educators Help Students Establish a Strong Professional Identity
Professional identity in nursing is more than a theory to be taught or recited. It is a core understanding of how nurses perceive themselves and interact with their patients, colleagues and the broader healthcare environment.
A well-formed professional identity helps nurses think, act, and feel like nurses. It also fosters and fuels a sense of belonging and purpose. This identity influences a nurse’s behavior, ethics, and commitment to the profession — ultimately impacting the quality of patient care they provide and the level of satisfaction they feel in their career.
This article highlights key principles in professional nursing identity, which was the focus of a webinar presented by ATI Nursing Education during Nurses Week 2025. The webinar was part of the ATI Talk series, a quarterly live event that explores current topics and challenges in nursing education.
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Developing a Sense of Self in Preparation for Nursing Practice
Integrating professional identity formation into nursing education helps ensure that students develop a strong, cohesive sense of themselves as future nurses. Providing this education and understanding can help new nurses become better prepared for real-world challenges and ease their transition into nursing practice.
Nelda Godfrey, PhD, ACNS-BC, FAAN, ANEF, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs at the University of Kansas School of Nursing, is an expert on professional identity formation. She is the founder of the International Society for Professional Identity in Nursing, a nonprofit organization that advances the science, visibility and integration of professional identify in nursing through research, collaboration and advocacy.
As the featured guest at the ATI Talk webinar focused on professional identity, Dr. Godfrey shared information and insights about its core principles and application.
"The work we have done with the International Society for Professional Identity in Nursing is transforming how nurses perceive their role and interact with patients and colleagues," said Dr. Godfrey, who also serves as Chair of the Department of Family, Community and Health Systems at University of Kansas Medical Center.
During the ATI Talk webinar, Dr. Godfrey provided an overview of the 4 domains of professional identity in nursing, which were identified by think tank teams who developed “The Tree of Impact” around the time ISPIN was established in 2020. The depiction of this tree reflects the environment of nurturing and support that is required to establish a strong professional identity.
The ISPIN think tank participants also identified 4 domains of professional identity in nursing:
- Values and ethics: A set of core values and principles to guide conduct
- Knowledge: Analysis and application of information derived from nursing and other disciplines, experiences, critical reflection, and scientific discovery
- Nurses as leaders: Inspiring self and others to transform a shared vision into reality
- Professional comportment: A nurse’s professional behavior demonstrated through words, actions and presence.
"Professional identity is integral to our discipline and helps nurses understand their role within the healthcare system and within society at large," noted Janet McMahon, DNP, MSN, RN, ANEF, a Client Success Nurse Educator Strategist for ATI Nursing Education. Dr. McMahon served as host for the ATI Talk webinar.
The Historical Context and Evolution of Professional Identity
The concept of professional identity in nursing has evolved significantly over the years. Historically, nursing education focused heavily on technical skills and clinical knowledge and spent little time on the formation of a professional identity. Things began to change in the mid-1990s, when disciplines started recognizing the importance of professional identity formation. This led to a shift in educational approach for many professions.
In the early 2000s, medical schools began incorporating professional identity formation into their curricula, and they acknowledged that professionalism could not be taught through traditional methods alone. This shift was informed by developmental psychology, which emphasized the need for a process-oriented approach to identity formation.
Nursing education has since followed suit, recognizing the need to move beyond mere socialization and to incorporate a comprehensive approach to professional identity formation, Dr. Godfrey said.
Evidence Supporting Professional Identity Formation
Research has identified a strong correlation between professional identity formation and positive outcomes in nursing. Studies show that a well-developed professional identity leads to better psychological health, job satisfaction, and reduced turnover rates. Nurses with a strong professional identity are more likely to exhibit ethical behavior, leadership qualities, and a commitment to lifelong learning.
Evidence also suggests that professional identity formation contributes to improved patient care overall, Dr. Godfrey said. Nurses who strongly identify with their profession are more empathetic, responsive, and capable of providing high-quality care. This underscores the importance of integrating professional identity formation into nursing education to cultivate competent, dedicated, and resilient nurses.
The reading list at the end of this article lists studies and articles about the impact of strong professional identity in nursing.
Implementing Professional Identity in Nursing Curriculum
Integrating professional identity into nursing curricula is crucial for developing well-rounded, competent nurses, the panelists said during the webinar. To do so requires moving beyond traditional notions of professionalism to a more nuanced understanding of what it means to be a nurse.
"We need to move away from simply teaching professionalism as a set of behaviors and instead focus on the formation of professional identity,” Dr. Godfrey said.
This teaching should encompass the 4 domains of professional identity in nursing. By embedding these elements into the curriculum, educators can help students internalize the core values of nursing and develop a strong professional identity, Dr. Godfrey said.
The ATI Talk panelists emphasized that integrating professional identity formation into a curriculum requires a multifaceted approach that shifts from traditional teaching methods to more holistic strategies that provide resonating experiences. Educators play a pivotal role in this integration, serving as role models and facilitators of reflective practice.
Dr. Godfrey, Dr. McMahon, and panelist Beth Cusatis Phillips, PhD, RN, CNE, CHSE, identified several strategies that foster in-depth nursing experiences, including:
- longitudinal clerkships
- clinical experiences
- reflection activities
- mentorship programs
- discussions about values and ethics.
By creating a supportive learning environment that emphasizes the importance of professional identity, nursing programs can better prepare students for the complexities of the healthcare field, the panelists said.
Supporting Faculty as They Help Students Develop Professional Identity
As a longtime partner of academic nursing programs and faculty, ATI recognizes the importance of professional identity formation. During the webinar, Dr. McMahon and Dr. Phillips shared information on ATI solutions that help educators instill professional identity concepts in nursing students.
They pointed to the Engage® Series, an interactive learning platform that replaces traditional textbooks with highly engaging teaching and learning. Engage modules provide interactive lessons that teach topics such as values and ethics, knowledge, leadership, and professional conduct.
“These modules are engaging and accessible, helping students connect theoretical knowledge with practical application,” said Dr. Phillips, who is a Strategic Nursing Advisor and the Senior Manager for Content Strategy at ATI.
“By integrating professional identity concepts into the curriculum, the Engage Series ensures that students develop a robust understanding of what it means to be a nurse,” she said. “This not only enhances educational outcomes but also supports the overall goal of fostering a strong professional identity.”
Another resource to help students develop professional behavior is Civility Mentor. This 4-module interactive course teaches students the importance of fostering civility in interprofessional teams to promote collaboration and patient safety. In Civility Mentor, students learn, practice and apply principles for effective communication, conflict negotiation, self-reflection and professional conduct.
Professional Identity Will Continue To Be a Critical Component of Nursing Education
The ATI Talk panelists said professional identity formation is and will remain a critical component of nursing education.
Instilling this understanding during a nursing student’s formative education will help ensure that future nurses are well-equipped to provide high-quality care and uphold the values of the profession.
To learn more about current topics in nursing education and nursing practice, join nursing education leaders at future ATI Talk webinars. Find a list of free upcoming webinars here.
For Further Reading
To learn more about professional identity, visit these articles and resources:
Clark CM, Davis S, Kuhl L, Priddy KD, Robinson MD. Conceptualizing the influence of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging on professional identity in nursing. The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing. 2024;55(10):493-499. https://doi.org/10.3928/00220124-20240909-01
Douglass B, Stager SL, Shaw K, Hite A, Soleki S, Stanik-Hutt J, Tufts G, Hite A, Solecki S, Stanik-Hutt J, Tufts G. Professional identity in nursing: Why it is important in graduate education. Journal of Professional Nursing. 2024;52:50-55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2024.03.004
Godfrey N, Young E. Professional Identity. In Giddens, J, Ed. Concepts for Nursing Practice, 4th edition. 2025: 409-417.
Horton-Deutsch S, Willis D, Llasus L, Beck M, Fankhauser K, Ambrosio-Mawhirter D, Watson J. Weaving Caring Science into the AACN Essentials: A cross-impact analysis and resource guide. Journal of Professional Nursing. 2025;56:36-48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2024.11.001
Landis T, Barbosa-Leiker C, Clark C, Godfrey N. Professional Identity in Nursing Scale 2.0: A national study of nurses' professional identity and psychometric properties. Journal of Professional Nursing. 2024;50:61-65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2023.11.004
Owens RA, Kuhl LM, Hagopian COP, Goodolf DM, Ferrell C, Liebig D, Howard MS, Weybrew, KA, Yockey J. Professionalism and professional identity. American Nurse Journal. 2024;19(9):14-20. https://doi.org/10.51256/ANJ092414
Shank L, Godfrey N. Developing a professional identity. In Ulrich B, Ed. Mastering Precepting, 3rd edition. 2024;119-134.
Weybrew, KA, Priddy KD, Howard MS, Phillips BC. Building strong foundations: The crucial role of professional identity in nursing excellence. Oregon State Board of Nursing Sentinel. 2024;43(2):6-9.https://www.oregon.gov/osbn/Documents/Sentinel_2024_May.pdf