To investigate the status of transition shock, career adaptation and professional identity among nursing interns, and to explore the mediating effect of professional identity on career adaptation and transition shock.

In February 2022, 500 nursing students from 18 nursing colleges in Henan province and Shaanxi province were selected as the research subjects by convenient sampling method. General data questionnaire, Professional Identity Questionnaire of Nursing Students, Career Adaptability Scale of college students and Chinese version of Transition Impact Assessment Scale of Nursing Undergraduate Interns were used to conduct the questionnaire survey.

The career adaptability score of nursing intern was (133.59 ± 22.58); professional identity score was (63.35 ± 14.06); transition impact score was (45.18 ± 10.17). Transition shock was negatively correlated with career adaptation and professional identity (r=-0.328, -0.484, both P<0.01). Occupational identity had a partial mediating effect on career adaptation and transition shock, accounting for 64.29% of the total effect.

The transition shock of nursing interns is at medium level. Nursing educators can reduce the degree of transition shock by improving their professional identity to nursing and their own career adaptation, so as to better adapt to the professional role.

Student, nursing; Professional identity; Career adaptability; Transition shock