Voices of nurses: Professional identity in online forums during times of change : qualitative content analysis of nurses experiences

Abstract

Recent major changes in healthcare have placed nurses in situations where work demands, ethical challenges, and professional as well as societal expectations have increased significantly. At the same time, accelerated digitalization has increasingly shifted interpersonal communication to online platforms in both professional and everyday life. This thesis examines the manifestation of nurses’ professional identity in online discussions in the context of significant changes in the healthcare sector. The aim of the thesis was to answer two research questions: 1) how do nurses present their professional identity in online discussions during major changes in the healthcare field, and 2) what kinds of themes related to professional identity emerge in online discussions during times of change? This thesis was conducted as a qualitative netnographic study, with data limited to public online discussions. The data consisted of a total of 55 messages written anonymously by nurses on an open online discussion platform. Inductive content analysis was applied to analyze the data. As a result of the analysis, five main themes were identified: professional recognition and societal position, obligation, coercion and professional responsibility, coping and workload, ethical and moral strain, and calling, identity crisis and leaving the profession. The results indicate that nurses’ professional identity is constructed on responsibility and commitment, but is simultaneously vulnerable due to workload, ethical conflicts, limited opportunities for influence, and a lack of professional recognition. In conclusion, online discussion platforms provide nurses with an easily accessible, informal, and anonymous discussion environment in which they share experiences, reflect on their professional identity and role, and make visible the structural challenges of nursing work. The results highlight the importance of supporting professional identity for nurses’ wellbeing, retention in the profession, and the sustainability of healthcare.