Nurse to educator? Academic roles and the formation of personal academic identities

SummaryThis aim of this research was to investigate the academic role of the nurse educator and its contribution to the formation of personal academic identity. Data was gathered using in-depth interviews (n = 14) with experienced nurse educators employed within pre-1992 and post-1992 universities.Prolonged analysis, reflection and theorisation of the findings indicated that participants experienced multiple challenges when seeking to assimilate personal academic identity, adopting, and adapting a variety of identities over time. A conceptual model of identity transformation encompassing five stages: pre-entry, reaffirming, surmounting, stabilising and actualising, provides a useful analytical framework to inform and shape the professional development of nurse educators.