Chow, Meyrick Chum MingMeyrick Chum MingChowHo, K. H. M.Chow, S. K. Y.Chiang, V. C. L.Wong, J. S. W.2025-03-102025-03-102019https://repository.sfu.edu.hk/handle/sfu/4583Aims (a) To explore the meanings of master's education in the professionalization of nursing; and (b) to describe the core attributes that nurses gained through master's study. Design Narrative inquiry. Methods From June 2017 to June 2018, unstructured interviews were conducted with 12 master-prepared nurses at advanced nursing position with minimum 5 years of postregistration experience. Collaborative thematic narrative analysis was conducted on verbatim transcripts. Members checking, peer validation and audience validation assured verisimilitude and utility. Results There was a need to fit one's own assertion for professional growth in nursing career structure. Master's study equipped nurses with specialty skills and knowledge with enhanced reflexivity, which nurtured morality, problem-solving ability and capacity to collaborate inter-professionally. Master-prepared nurses demonstrated effective clinical leadership through acting as change agents. Conclusions Master's level education and master-prepared nurses are instrumental to the professionalization of nursing by expanding the roles of nurses. Nursing career mentoring will maximize nurses’ agency in healthcare system. Developing innovative inter-professional pedagogy will nurture the reflexivity of master-prepared nurses.enjournal article10.1111/jan.14044