A Study of Differential Socialization for Members of One Professional Occupation

This study analyzes questionnaire responses from senior nursing students in three associate degree programs (N = 116), three hospital-affiliated diploma schools (N = 116), and three baccalaureate, university-affiliated schools of nursing (N = 148). Personality characteristics, role-conflict expectations, and commitment orientations are compared both across and within the three institutional types. It is found that type of socializing agency is not associated with differential professional, organizational, and clinical specialty commitments, but is reflected in expectations concerning professional role conflicts. Students passing through various educational structures are best differentiated in terms of personality characteristics, such as interpersonal trust and authoritarianism, which may reflect self-selection more than formal professional socialization. Discussed also are benefits accruing to the nursing profession from the existence of all three types of schools of nursing.