Effects of Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy, Career Outcome Expectation, and Career Consciousness Maturity on Career Preparation Behavior of Nursing Students

Although career preparation is an important factor in making correct career decisions and increasing job satisfaction, nursing students lack consideration and preparation for their career path when choosing a major. The purpose of this study was to identify the relationships among career decision-making self-efficacy, career outcome expectation, and career consciousness maturity on the behavior of nursing students in preparing for their careers. We collected data using structured questionnaires from 95 nursing students in C city from June 1 to June 20, 2018. We analyzed the data using the IBM SPSS/WIN 23.0 program for descriptive statistics, independent t test, oneway ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and multiple regression. As a result, the factors influencing the career preparation behavior of nursing students were career decision self-efficacy (β = .35, p < .001) and career consciousness maturity (β = .30, p = .003), and the explanatory power of these variables was 37%. Based on these results, it was required to develop programs to strengthen career decision-making self-efficacy and career consciousness maturity. In order to improve career decision-making self-efficacy, a program should be developed to improve confidence in solving problems by providing career opportunities. In addition, in order to strengthen career consciousness maturity, a career road map for each grade should be constructed, as well as systematic career counseling and employment capacity enhancement programs.