Socialization into Nursing

Socialization

Socialization is the process during which individuals learn new roles, behaviors, values, and knowledge appropriate for a new social group/profession (Hinshaw, 1977). Socialization begins upon entry into a nursing program but does not end upon graduation. Socialization continues thorough to employment, and beyond (Weis & Schank, 2002).

Understanding socialization for professional identity and development, specifically the feeling of being a nurse, is important in an accelerated BSN program or any nursing program for that matter? Socialization in an accelerated BSN program is important because an accelerated BSN program is a rapid program developed for second-degree students that leaves very little time to get involved in professional organizations, the classes are full time and last 12-18 months, and includes the same classroom and clinical hours as a regular 3 year program, and therefore programs such as these have uninterrupted study.

Prelicensure socialization of nursing students occurs throughout formal education via interactions with other nurses in clinical settings, with the combination of knowledge and skills and learned values of the nursing profession (Ohlen & Segesten, 1998). Prelicensure socialization corresponds with Benner’s (1984) novice stage of nursing. A novice nurse is a students or beginner who has no prior nursing experience, and in the beginning, prior to starting in a hospital setting are taught the basic skills of nurses, such as taking vital signs (temperatures, pulses, respirations, and blood pressures) as well as bathing patients and bed making

Professional Socialization

Professional socialization coincides with induction socialization when accelerated BSN students graduate, and enter the clinical setting after licensure as registered nurses. As registered nurses advance in the clinical setting they enter Benner’s (1984) advanced beginner