Clinical competence and its association with self-efficacy and clinical learning environments among Chinese undergraduate nursing students. (May 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yu, Miao; Tong, Huanhuan; Li, Shuwen; Wu, Xi Vivien; Hong, Jingfang; Wang, Wenru
• Is Part Of: Nurse education in practice. Volume 53(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-05
• Subjects: Clinical competence -- Self-efficacy -- Clinical learning environment -- Undergraduate nursing student; Nursing -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; Education, Nursing -- Periodicals; Nursing -- Study and teaching; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 610.73071
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nepr.2021.103055
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1471-5953

Abstract

Abstract: Evaluation and cultivation of clinical competence in undergraduate nursing students are essential in nursing education. Self-efficacy and good clinical learning environments are expected to have a positive influence on the clinical competence of undergraduate nursing students, but few studies have focused on the relationships among clinical competence, self-efficacy, and clinical learning environments. This study aimed to examine clinical competence and its association with self-efficacy and clinical learning environments among Chinese undergraduate nursing students. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted with 1518 undergraduate nursing students being recruited from five medical colleges in China. The nursing students' clinical competence, self-efficacy, and clinical learning environments were assessed using a set of self-reported questionnaires, including Chinese versions of the Holistic Clinical Assessment Tool; General Self-Efficacy Scale; and Clinical Learning Environment, Supervision, and Nurse Teacher Evaluation Scale. Factors significantly associated with the clinical competence of undergraduate nursing students were professional interest, self-efficacy, and clinical learning environments, accounting for 36.1% of the total variance. Self-efficacy played a mediating role between clinical learning environments and clinical competence. The results of this study can be applied as reference for the enhancement of a nursing education program to improve the clinical competence of Chinese undergraduate nursing students. Highlights: The clinical competence of Chinese undergraduate nursing students was deemed optimistic. Self-efficacy and clinical learning environment significantly influenced the clinical competence of nursing students. Self-efficacy played a partial mediating role between clinical learning environments and clinical competence.