Full-time undergraduate nursing students' perceptions of professional dignity: a descriptive qualitative study of social attitudes, professional values, and self-identity.
4 affiliations
- 1The School of Nursing, Fujian Medical University, NO.1 Xueyuan Road, Shangjie Town, Minhou County, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350122, China.
- 2The School of Nursing, Fujian Medical University, NO.1 Xueyuan Road, Shangjie Town, Minhou County, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350122, China. [email protected].
- 3Nursing Humanities Research Center, Fujian Provincial University Research Base for Humanities and Social Sciences, Fuzhou, Fujian, China. [email protected].
- 4The School of Nursing, Fujian Medical University, NO.1 Xueyuan Road, Shangjie Town, Minhou County, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350122, China. [email protected].
Abstract
Background
Professional dignity is fundamental to nurses' professional identity and the quality of care they provide. As the future nursing workforce, undergraduate nursing students' experiences and perceptions of professional dignity warrant deeper exploration. This study aimed to explore how Chinese full-time undergraduate nursing students perceive and make sense of professional dignity within their social, educational, and clinical contexts.Methods
A descriptive qualitative design was adopted. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 29 full-time undergraduate nursing students from 15 universities in mainland China. Individual semi-structured online interviews were conducted from September to December 2025. Data were analysed using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis.Results
Three themes were identified: (1) external social valuation of nursing, (2) appraisal of nursing's professional value, and (3) evolving professional dignity. External social valuation of nursing reflected how students' professional dignity was shaped by social evaluation, which could either diminish or enhance their sense of dignity. Appraisal of nursing's professional value showed that students understood dignity through the meaningful contribution of nursing and the professional respect associated with clinical competence. Evolving professional dignity illustrated how students' perceptions of professional dignity were continually reconsidered through nursing education and clinical exposure.Conclusions
Undergraduate nursing students occupy a vulnerable yet formative position as their professional dignity and identity take shape. The development of professional dignity reflects a complex interplay of individual and contextual factors, with social recognition playing a central role. Nurse educators and clinical mentors should recognise this developmental process and provide deliberate support to foster stronger professional dignity among nursing students.Trial registration
Not applicable. This study is a descriptive qualitative study exploring nursing students' perceptions of professional dignity. It does not report the results of a health care intervention on human participants and therefore does not require trial registration.
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BibTeX
@article{zeng2026fulltime,
title = {{Full-time undergraduate nursing students' perceptions of professional dignity: a descriptive qualitative study of social attitudes, professional values, and self-identity.}},
author = {Xiaoyan Zeng and Enru Lin and Ruxin Li and Rong Hu and Ying Wang},
journal = {BMC nursing},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1186/s12912-026-05387-0},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42963781},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Full-time undergraduate nursing students' perceptions of professional dignity: a descriptive qualitative study of social attitudes, professional values, and self-identity.
AU - Xiaoyan Zeng
AU - Enru Lin
AU - Ruxin Li
AU - Rong Hu
AU - Ying Wang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/16
JO - BMC nursing
DO - 10.1186/s12912-026-05387-0
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42963781
AB - Background Professional dignity is fundamental to nurses' professional identity and the quality of care they provide. As the future nursing workforce, undergraduate nursing students' experiences and perceptions of professional dignity warrant deeper exploration. This study aimed to explore how Chinese full-time undergraduate nursing students perceive and make sense of professional dignity within their social, educational, and clinical contexts.Methods A descriptive qualitative design was adopted. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 29 full-time undergraduate nursing students from 15 universities in mainland China. Individual semi-structured online interviews were conducted from September to December 2025. Data were analysed using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis.Results Three themes were identified: (1) external social valuation of nursing, (2) appraisal of nursing's professional value, and (3) evolving professional dignity. External social valuation of nursing reflected how students' professional dignity was shaped by social evaluation, which could either diminish or enhance their sense of dignity. Appraisal of nursing's professional value showed that students understood dignity through the meaningful contribution of nursing and the professional respect associated with clinical competence. Evolving professional dignity illustrated how students' perceptions of professional dignity were continually reconsidered through nursing education and clinical exposure.Conclusions Undergraduate nursing students occupy a vulnerable yet formative position as their professional dignity and identity take shape. The development of professional dignity reflects a complex interplay of individual and contextual factors, with social recognition playing a central role. Nurse educators and clinical mentors should recognise this developmental process and provide deliberate support to foster stronger professional dignity among nursing students.Trial registration Not applicable. This study is a descriptive qualitative study exploring nursing students' perceptions of professional dignity. It does not report the results of a health care intervention on human participants and therefore does not require trial registration.
SN - 1472-6955
ER -