Self-efficacy in freshman and sophomore nursing students

Abstract

Healthcare disparities and inequities have been at the forefront of the health agenda, thus supporting that minority healthcare is of poorer quality than that experienced by the majority population. Compounding this issue is the fact that our nation is growing more diverse. Only modest strides have been made to increase the diversity in the nursing workforce so patient care needs can be better met. Using a 99-item survey, this study evaluates the relationship between personal factors, community factors, and the level of self-efficacy related to nursing as a career in pre-nursing minority students in higher education. The sample consisted of 88 African American and Caucasian freshman and sophomore students. No statistically significant differences were found between the two ethnic groups in nursing academic, clinical self-efficacy, or general self-efficacy. Differences were found between the ethnic groups in the kinds of social support needed by the students. These findings suggest that when minorities have relatively the same personal and community influencing factors as Caucasian students, they achieve comparable levels of self-efficacy. These findings may suggest that other variables and perhaps other theories need to be examined.