The Relationship Between On-Site Clinical Practice, Nursing Professional Value, and Nursing Clinical Self-Efficacy During COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: During COVID-19, nursing students experienced variations in on-site clinical practice, such as a combination of on-site and non-face-to-face clinical practice. Although on-site clinical practice is critical for increasing nurses' clinical self-efficacy and developing professional nursing values, there is a lack of knowledge that reflects the current clinical practice environment.

Aim: To examine the relationship between on-site clinical practice, nursing professional values, and nursing clinical self-efficacy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: This study is a cross-sectional correlational study design. Demographic characteristics, on-site clinical practice, nursing professional values, and nursing clinical self-efficacy were assessed using an online survey from October 3, 2022, to November 6, 2022. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, ANOVA, t-test, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and multiple regression.

Results: Of the 86 participants, 18 (20.9%) were male and 68 (79.1%) were female. The duration of the participants' average participation in on-site clinical practice was 39.67 days (61.04%). Nursing professional values significantly influenced clinical self-efficacy (β=0.379, p<0.001). However, on-site clinical practice was not significantly related to clinical self-efficacy (β=0.051, p=0.611). In terms of nursing clinical self-efficacy, measuring blood glucose had the highest score. On the other hand, establishing and maintaining intravenous catheters had the lowest scores.

Conclusion: Nursing students' professional values were significantly associated with nursing clinical self-efficacy; however, the extent of involvement in on-site clinical practice during the pandemic did not have a significant impact on nursing clinical self-efficacy. Given that this study focused on a single university, it is imperative to replicate this research using diverse samples in the future. In addition, there is a need to establish a range of teaching and learning approaches for clinical practice, including simulation, online learning, and the use of state-of-the-art technology for faculty-student feedback strategies, in anticipation of the need for alternative practices.

Keywords: COVID-19; clinical practice; nursing education; nursing students; professionalism; self-efficacy.