Developing a Professionalism Manual for Nurse Managers to Improve Their Perception Regarding Professionalism and Professional Identity

BACKGROUND: Developing a professional identity is rooted in the dimensions of professionalism and professional development. Moreover, the need for teaching professionalism has a mutual relationship with the formation of a desirable professional identity. AIM: The current study aimed at developing a professionalism manual for the nurse managers to improve their perception regarding professionalism and professional identity. DESIGN: Quasi-experimental research design with pre-test, post-test, and follow-up was used. SETTING: The study was conducted at two different hospitals; Menoufia University hospital and Al-helal Insurance hospital, Menoufia Governorate, Egypt. SUBJECTS: The participants included all nurse managers at different levels from the two different hospitals (n =100). Tools: tool 1: Professionalism Questionnaire and tool 2: Professional Identity Assessment Questionnaire were used to collect data. RESULTS: there was a statistically significant improvement in professionalism perception and professional identity level immediately after administering the professionalism manual and after three months in the follow-up phase than the pre-test phase. Additionally, there was a statistically significant positive correlation between two variables of the study at the post and follow-up phases, but not significant at the pre-test phase. CONCLUSION: the professionalism manual was effective in improving nurse managers’ perceptions regarding professionalism and professional identity. Recommendations: Incorporate the attributes of professionalism that were included in the professionalism manual as a guide for the performance review processes of nurses.