Implementation and effectiveness of a nurse navigation programme based on noddings' care theory in first-year undergraduate nursing students for professional identity and career planning: A quasi-experimental study

Aims: Development and evaluation of the effectiveness of a Nurse Navigation programme based on Noddings' Care theory on two dependent variables which were professional identity and career planning among first -year undergraduate nursing students. Background: First -year undergraduate nursing students generally have a low sense of professional identity and career planning, resulting in a loss of nursing power after graduation. Implemention of a Nurse Navigation program based on Noddings' Care theory may be potentially useful in cultivating their professional identity and career planning. Design: A quasi-experimental study. Methods: A convenience sample of 122 first -year undergraduate nursing students from two medical universities was recruited between September 2021 and June 2022. Students in the experimental group (n = 63) participated in the Nurse Navigation programme based on Noddings' Care theory, which contained four core components, spreading over 50 lessons. Those in the control group (n = 59) underwent a traditional training programme with five components across 44 lessons. The two groups were compared in terms of their level of professional identity by Professional identity questionnaire for nurse students (PIQNS) and career planning by Career planning questionnaire (CPQ) after the training using the t -test. Results: The mean score of professional identity in the experimental group increased significantly from 51.02 +/- 8.46 at baseline to 58.02 +/- 8.81 after the intervention (p < 0.001), with a large effect size (Cohen's d=0.810). Also, this post-intervention score was statistically significantly higher than that (52.86 +/- 9.27) in the control group (p = 0.002), with a medium effect size (Cohen's d=0.571). The mean score of career planning in the experimental group increased significantly from 81.76 +/- 9.86 at baseline to 94.52 +/- 10.81 after the intervention (p < 0.001), with a large effect size (Cohen's d = 1.233). Also, this post-intervention score was statistically significantly higher than that (88.25 +/- 9.30) in the control group (p < 0.001), with a medium effect size (Cohen's d=0.623). Conclusions: The Nurse Navigation programme based on Noddings' Care theory showed effectiveness in enhancing professional identity and career planning among first -year undergraduate nursing students in China. Further rigorous studies are needed to examine its effectiveness and long-term impacts on these students.