A Qualitative Study on Perceived Professional Benefits Among Nursing Interns in China’s Grade A Tertiary Hospitals

Xiaoxia Zhu,1 Man Xu,2 Congbing Yan,3 Rong Bao,1 Jinxia Jiang4 1Disinfection Supply Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Stomatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Pain, Shanghai Fourth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China; 4Emergency Department, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Rong Bao, The First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, No. 168, Chang hai Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai, 200433, People’s Republic of China, Email [email protected] Congbing Yan, Shanghai Fourth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, No. 1279, Sanmen Road, Hongkou District, Shanghai, 200434, People’s Republic of China, Email [email protected]: To explore the perceived professional benefits among nursing interns in China’s Grade A tertiary hospitals and to provide empirical evidence for clinical educators and managers to inform targeted intervention strategies.Design: A descriptive qualitative study.Methods: Purposive sampling was used to recruit 12 nursing interns from a Grade A tertiary teaching hospital in Shanghai, China. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted between August and October 2025. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis following Braun and Clarke’s six-phase framework. Trustworthiness was ensured through member checking, peer debriefing, researcher triangulation, and maintaining an audit trail.Results: Four themes emerged: (1) professional achievement, comprising awe toward advanced skills, patient feedback motivation, and growth through challenges; (2) professional value, including value enhancement, self-validation, and role expansion; (3) social support, encompassing professional recognition, organizational support, and family support; and (4) positive departmental atmosphere, involving team belonging, communication skills, and humanistic care.Conclusion: Nursing interns in Grade A tertiary hospitals perceive substantial professional benefits through clinical achievements, value recognition, multidimensional support, and positive work environments. These findings inform nursing education and hospital management strategies to enhance professional socialization and reduce intern attrition.Keywords: nursing interns, perceived professional benefits, qualitative research, work environment, clinical training, healthy work environments