Educational Disparities in Professional Identity and Career Path Planning for Newly Graduated Nurses in China.

Abstract

Background: Professional identity is a pivotal factor that influences career path planning for nurses. Few studies have examined the relationship between these two variables among newly graduated nurses (NGNs). This study assessed the association between professional identity and career path planning and examined educational disparities among NGNs in China.

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess 238 NGNs. The Professional Identity Scale for Nursing Students and a career path planning questionnaire were used.

Results: Compared with NGNs with associate's degrees, those with bachelor's degrees had lower professional identity, were less likely to choose clinical nursing, and more often selected nursing research or specialized nursing as their career paths. Multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that career path planning was significantly associated with professional identity and educational level.

Conclusion: Educational disparities were found between professional identity and career path planning, highlighting the need for tailored orientation training for NGNs with different educational levels in China. [J Contin Educ Nurs. 2025;56(4):158-164.].