EXPLORATION OF THE FACTORS INFLUENCING PROFESSIONAL IDENTITY FORMATION AMONG NURSING PRACTITIONERS AT SOUTH GUJARAT, INDIA

Background and AimProfessional identity formation is increasingly recognized as an important component of nursing education and professional practice.Although professional identity in nursing has been widely explored in international literature, and emerging Indian literature has begun to recognize the significance of professional identity formation, there is insufficient contextspecific evidence regarding the factors influencing professional identity formation among nurses in South Gujarat.Present study aimed to explore the factors influencing professional identity formation among nursing practitioners at South Gujarat, India. Methods and MaterialsFifteen nursing practitioners from government and private hospitals selected through purposive sampling were interviewed either face-to-face or online via Zoom meetings, lasting about 30 to 40 minutes, with audio-video recording.Data collection continued until saturation was achieved.The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using Braun and Clarke's