Investigation on professional identity and perceived social support of nurses in standardized training under epidemic period in Shanghai

  Objective  To investigate the status of professional identity and perceived social support of nurses in standardized training nurses under specific epidemic period in Shanghai, and to understand the influencing factors on professional identity.

  Methods  Convenience sampling was used to recruit 332 nurses for standardized training from three public general hospitals in Shanghai. General information and epidemic prevention-related behaviors, professional identity, and perceived social support were surveyed online using the Questionnaire Star Platform. Then, the survey data were analyzed by multiple linear regression analysis.

  Results  Totally 320 valid questionnaires were collected, with a recovery rate of 96.4%. The total score of these nurses' professional identity was (108.44 ±19.94). The scores for each dimension, from high to low, were professional self-reflection, professional social support, professional frustration response, professional cognitive evaluation, and professional social skills. The total score of perceived social support was (61.74 ±12.54). The friend support score was the highest, while the family support score was the lowest. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that under the specific epidemic period in Shanghai, the nurses in standardized training with a bachelor's degree scored 9.058 points lower in professional identity than those with a junior college degree (P < 0.001). The score of nurses' professional identity increased by 3.339 points for each grade (unfamiliarity, familiarity, and mastery) increase in awareness of epidemic prevention and control knowledge (P = 0.003). The scores of professional identity of nurses in standardized training who participated in anti-epidemic volunteer service or had experience in fighting regional epidemics increased by 6.491 (P < 0.001) and 4.343 (P = 0.005), respectively, compared with those without such experience. For every 1 point increase in the perceived social support score, the professional identity score increased by an average of 1.064 points (P < 0.001).

  Conclusions  The status quo of professional identity and perceived social support among nurses in standardized training were both at a medium level during the epidemic period in Shanghai in 2022. It is suggested that families, units, and all society should give more support and care to these nurses, and medical and health institutions should improve the nurse employment mechanism, take various measures to increase their knowledge of epidemic prevention and control, and encourage them to actively participate in volunteer service against epidemics so as to enhance their professional identity.