Nurses’ Self-Efficacy and Academic Degree Advancement

[Pages:7]JNPD

Journal for Nurses in Professional Development & Volume 30, Number 3, 110Y116 & Copyright B 2014 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Nurses' Self-Efficacy and Academic

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Degree Advancement

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Susan Winslow, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, APHN-BC Pamela DeGuzman, PhD, MBA, RN Pamela Kulbok, DNSc, RN, PHCNS-BC, FAAN Stephanie Jackson, DNP, RN, CNS, ACNS-BC

The last decade has brought about a synergy of influences for registered nurses to advance their academic preparation. Literature indicates that there is correlation between self-efficacy and goal establishment and success. The purpose of this project was to evaluate the relationship between self-efficacy and advancing academic aspirations of registered nurses. Findings indicated that there was a trend toward a difference in the self-efficacy of nurses who began their career with a diploma or associate degree and went on for academic advancement and those who did not.

Bandura (1977, 1986) defined self-efficacy as an individual's self-perception of one's ability to perform competently and to achieve a task or goal effectively. A strong sense of self-efficacy allows for perseverance despite obstacles along the way. Further refinement of this construct identifies perceived self-efficacy as the central trait of understanding an individual's interactions with the environment as the mediator between knowledge and behavior (Bandura, 1994). This key concept is critical in understanding and predicting the potential ability of a person to succeed in achieving goals.

Early studies note that sense of self-efficacy is more predicative than actual experience of performing a behavior in forecasting future behaviors (Harvey & McMurray, 1994). Persons with high self-efficacy view tasks as exciting goals to achieve, versus insurmountable obstacles that cannot be accomplished (Jeffreys & Smodlaka, 1999). The con-

Susan Winslow, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, APHN-BC, is Director of Nursing Education and Community Services, Martha Jefferson Hospital, Charlottesville, VA. Pamela DeGuzman, PhD, MBA, RN, is Assistant Professor of Nursing, Roberts Scholar, and Fellow, UVa Center for Design and Health at The University of Virginia School of Nursing. Pamela Kulbok, DNSc, RN, PHCNS-BC, FAAN, is Theresa A. Thomas Professor of Public Health Sciences and Chair, Department of Family, Community & Mental Health at The University of Virginia School of Nursing. Stephanie Jackson, DNP, RN, CNS, ACNS-BC, is Director of Professional Practice and Magnet Program Director at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. The authors have disclosed that they have no significant relationship with, or financial interest in, any commercial companies pertaining to this article. ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE: Susan Winslow, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, APHN-BC, Martha Jefferson Hospital, 500 Martha Jefferson Drive, Charlottesville, VA 22911 (e ................
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