A think tank in action: Building new knowledge about professional identity in nursing.

A notable body of research regarding professional identity development and formation in nursing currently exists. Unfortunately, no one definition has guided a plan to build new knowledge within the profession. The think tank methodology used with professional identity in nursing has successfully brought together international leaders in education, regulation, and practice to begin to think, plan, study, and disseminate the findings of the professional identity in nursing initiative. This article briefly explains the state of the science regarding professional identity and discusses in depth a think tank methodology. This approach produced important outcomes about professional identity in nursing, showing how a well-constructed think tank offers clarity and an understanding about the next steps needed to build new knowledge and language within a discipline.