Relationship Between Self-Efficacy and Work Experience in Baccalaureate Junior and Senior Level Nursing Students

Background: New nursing graduates entering the healthcare fields have demonstrated competency with clinical skills during their education. However, limited experience with skill performance can leave them prone to clinical errors. Higher self-efficacy levels increase competency as individuals create higher goals and are more easily able to perform tasks. Therefore, work experience during nursing school may increase nursing students’ self-efficacy as they become comfortable performing clinical skills. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between employment in health care facilities and self-efficacy of clinical skills in undergraduate nursing students. Methods: A non-experimental correlational study using convenience sampling, of (N) junior and (n) senior level baccalaureate nursing students. Clinical self-efficacy was measured with the Clinical Skills Self-Efficacy Scale. Results: Seniors reported greater confidence than juniors. Employment in a healthcare setting as a nursing student increased students’ level of confidence for insertion of Foley catheters. The length of time employed and the number of hours worked per week increased the level of confidence for Foley catheters and nasogastric (NG) tubes. Recommendations: Further research into this topic should include looking at levels of nursing students employed in healthcare settings at different Universities. In addition, confidence is an important concept for nursing students to have when performing their clinical skills, but increased confidence may not always positively correlate with competence. Future studies should explore competence levels of clinical skills for nursing students working in a healthcare setting