Aim: This study aims to investigate the self-efficacy of nursing students during their clinical practicum and identify the factors influencing their self-efficacy. Methods: A cross-sectional research design was employed using convenience sampling and a questionnaire survey. The 264 nursing students consisted of 144 third-year and 120 fourth-year nursing students from a university in southern Taiwan. Data were collected using the "Self-Efficacy Scale" from Liang et al. [1] and analyzed using SPSS software. Descriptive statistics, independent samples t-tests, and ANOVA were utilized to examine the differences in self efficacy based on various demographic and experiential factors. Results: The study achieved a 100% response rate. The findings indicated that nursing students generally exhibited high levels of self efficacy, with a mean score of 44.19 out of 60. Significant differences in self-efficacy were observed based on enjoyment of clinical practice (t=5.45, p<.001), taking care of sick family members (t=2.02, p=.04), satisfaction with self-performance during practicum (F=6.81, p<.001), and intention to pursue clinical work after graduation (F=13.12, p<.001). Students who enjoyed their clinical practicum and those with higher satisfaction in their practicum performance demonstrated higher self-efficacy. Conclusion: The study highlights the importance of enhancing self efficacy in nursing students through supportive clinical environments, effective communication, and reflective practices. Improving self efficacy can increase students' clinical confidence and motivation to pursue a career in nursing. Future research should include larger and more diverse samples to generalize the findings across different educational contexts. Keywords: Nursing education, clinical practice, self-efficacy, nursing students, professional development
Read full abstract