Metaphors used by in-service training nurses for in-service training nurses in Turkey.

Aim: To report a study conducted using a qualitative and quantitative study pattern with an aim to reveal the perceptions of in-service training nurses about in-service training nurses via metaphors.

Background: The in-service training nurse assumes great responsibility in the effective and efficient implementation of the educational activities in healthcare. In line with this, determining the perceptions of the in-service training nurses about in-service training nurses via metaphors and taking this into consideration in professional activities are important in terms of developing, changing, or questioning the perspectives of the in-service training nurses about their roles and developing their own training nurse identity.

Design: This article was designed as qualitative and quantitative study pattern.

Methods: The population of the study included 93 in-service training nurses. Data were collected between June-September 2009. To collect data, each in-service training nurse was asked to complete the blanks in the sentence, 'The in-service training nurse is like a/an.....................because..................' The data were analysed using qualitative (content analysis) and quantitative (chi-square) data analysis methods.

Findings: According to the findings of the study, the in-service training nurses identified 59 metaphors in total. The metaphors were grouped under nine conceptual categories depending on the characteristics they had in common. In cognitive image of the in-service training nurses relating to the concept of in-service training nurse, the outstanding conceptual category was the in-service training nurse as a knowledge provider.

Conclusion: The metaphors can be used as a strong research tool in understanding, revealing and explaining the cognitive images of the in-service training nurses.