The Relationship between General Self-Efficacy and Nursing Practice Competence among REU Nursing Students: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Background: General self-efficacy is a personal belief that influences student nurses to increase their motivation and perform task in the clinical setting competently. Exploring the association of clinical nurse practice competence is important for enhancing student learning outcomes in nursing education. Aim: This study aims to determine the relationship between clinical nurse practice competences with the general self-efficacy of the nursing students. Methods: This study employed descriptive cross sectional research design. Using a purposive sampling technique, a total of 222 nursing students from the nursing level 4 to level 8 participated in an online survey. The researcher used the Clinical Competence Questionnaire (CCQ) and the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE) in collecting the needed data of the study. Descriptive statistics and Pearson’s correlation analysis were applied using SPSS version 29. Results: This study revealed that nursing students have moderate level of nursing practice competency under four domains. The nursing students have high level of general self-efficacy (mean = 2.73 ± 0.81). The nursing students has mean = 3.22 ± 1.13 in the professional behavior in the clinical practice. Pearson’s correlation analysis showed a strong positive correlation between general self-efficacy and clinical practice competence (r = 0.853, p = 0.001). Conclusion: The self-efficacy and clinical practice competence is strongly associated. Having a better self-efficacy may contribute to the nursing students competence in the nursing practice which helps them in preparation for the professional role of nurses.