Nursing Professional Excellence: A Grounded Theory Approach

Introduction: Professional excellence has drawn the attention of many managers as a new approach in the nursing profession. Excellence creates a range of voluntary and selected behaviors that are not a part of formal nursing duties, but are practiced by some nurses and effectively improve their duties and professional roles. The dynamic nature of the nursing profession and the need for professional effectiveness has revealed the ever-increasing need for the organization of a competent generation of nurses. This research aimed to explain the process of developing professional excellence in nurses, assisted by the "Grounded Theory." Factors affecting the formation of such behaviors were also explored. Methods: This qualitative study was carried out on the basis of the "Grounded Theory" of Corbin & Strauss copy in 2008. Participants in this study included nurses from different ranks, except for first participants who were selected based on assigned indicators. Others were selected by the "Snowball Sampling Method." Data were collected through the semi-structure interview of 15 participants. Results: From 1,450 primary codes, 32 primary categories, eight subcategories, and three themes were derived in the frame of a conceptual model, with the conceptual themes consisting of professional behavior, strategic professional insight, and the establishment of professional talents management. The core variable and the basic social psychological process in this study was the professional extra role behavior, and the theory offered is the nursing professional excellence. Conclusion: Self-direction, the ability to lead others, and the management of duties and responsibilities relevant to nursing sociability are some effective factors in the Nursing Professional Excellence process. Professional excellence results from the combination of a favorable, supportive environment and the individual perspective approach.