Self-efficacy as a mediator in the relationship between clinical learning environment and core nursing competence of intern nursing students: a multicentre cross-sectional study

Objective The aim of this study was to examine the relationships between Chinese intern nursing students’ self-efficacy, the clinical learning environment, and core nursing competence. In addition, self-efficacy was investigated as a mediator in the association between the clinical learning environm...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Xiaoxia Zhang, Xianqiong Feng, Lan Fu, Yunxia Pu, Hongmei Xie, Ting Long, Xiaotian Su, Xiaojuan Feng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2025-05-01
Series:BMJ Open
Online Access:https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/5/e094858.full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849309947062386688
author Xiaoxia Zhang
Xianqiong Feng
Lan Fu
Yunxia Pu
Hongmei Xie
Ting Long
Xiaotian Su
Xiaojuan Feng
author_facet Xiaoxia Zhang
Xianqiong Feng
Lan Fu
Yunxia Pu
Hongmei Xie
Ting Long
Xiaotian Su
Xiaojuan Feng
author_sort Xiaoxia Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Objective The aim of this study was to examine the relationships between Chinese intern nursing students’ self-efficacy, the clinical learning environment, and core nursing competence. In addition, self-efficacy was investigated as a mediator in the association between the clinical learning environment and core nursing competence.Design This study used a cross-sectional, descriptive research design.Setting 15 nursing colleges and universities in China were the setting for the study.Participants The participants were 552 nursing student interns.Primary and secondary outcome measures The participants completed measures of general self-efficacy and nursing student core competencies.Results Participants’ mean scores indicated they were satisfied with the clinical learning environment (123.02±19.62), their self-efficacy was at a medium-high level (29.71±5.25), and their core competence was at the upper intermediate level (148.73±22.63). Core nursing competence was positively correlated with self-efficacy and the clinical learning environment (r=0.597, p<0.001; r=0.549, p<0.001). The clinical learning environment (β=0.362, p<0.001), duration of clinical practice (β=0.131, p<0.001) and self-efficacy (β=0.406, p<0.001) were identified as significant predictors of core nursing competence. Self-efficacy partially mediated the association between perception of the clinical learning environment and core competence level, accounting for 45.88% of the overall effect.Conclusions Self-efficacy played a role in explaining the beneficial association between the clinical learning environment and core nursing competence among Chinese intern nursing students. These findings suggest that nursing managers and educators should initially promote nursing students’ self-efficacy to increase their confidence in overcoming clinical obstacles, and subsequently cultivate their core nursing competence.
format Article
id doaj-art-50dee3e314af451b91cc7f6870e3b7cf
institution Kabale University
issn 2044-6055
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher BMJ Publishing Group
record_format Article
series BMJ Open
spelling doaj-art-50dee3e314af451b91cc7f6870e3b7cf2025-08-20T03:53:56ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552025-05-0115510.1136/bmjopen-2024-094858Self-efficacy as a mediator in the relationship between clinical learning environment and core nursing competence of intern nursing students: a multicentre cross-sectional studyXiaoxia Zhang0Xianqiong Feng1Lan Fu2Yunxia Pu3Hongmei Xie4Ting Long5Xiaotian Su6Xiaojuan Feng7West China Hospital School of Nursing, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaWest China Hospital School of Nursing, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaDepartment of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaDepartment of Targeting Therapy & Immunology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaDepartment of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaOutpatient Department, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaDepartment of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaDepartment of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaObjective The aim of this study was to examine the relationships between Chinese intern nursing students’ self-efficacy, the clinical learning environment, and core nursing competence. In addition, self-efficacy was investigated as a mediator in the association between the clinical learning environment and core nursing competence.Design This study used a cross-sectional, descriptive research design.Setting 15 nursing colleges and universities in China were the setting for the study.Participants The participants were 552 nursing student interns.Primary and secondary outcome measures The participants completed measures of general self-efficacy and nursing student core competencies.Results Participants’ mean scores indicated they were satisfied with the clinical learning environment (123.02±19.62), their self-efficacy was at a medium-high level (29.71±5.25), and their core competence was at the upper intermediate level (148.73±22.63). Core nursing competence was positively correlated with self-efficacy and the clinical learning environment (r=0.597, p<0.001; r=0.549, p<0.001). The clinical learning environment (β=0.362, p<0.001), duration of clinical practice (β=0.131, p<0.001) and self-efficacy (β=0.406, p<0.001) were identified as significant predictors of core nursing competence. Self-efficacy partially mediated the association between perception of the clinical learning environment and core competence level, accounting for 45.88% of the overall effect.Conclusions Self-efficacy played a role in explaining the beneficial association between the clinical learning environment and core nursing competence among Chinese intern nursing students. These findings suggest that nursing managers and educators should initially promote nursing students’ self-efficacy to increase their confidence in overcoming clinical obstacles, and subsequently cultivate their core nursing competence.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/5/e094858.full
spellingShingle Xiaoxia Zhang
Xianqiong Feng
Lan Fu
Yunxia Pu
Hongmei Xie
Ting Long
Xiaotian Su
Xiaojuan Feng
Self-efficacy as a mediator in the relationship between clinical learning environment and core nursing competence of intern nursing students: a multicentre cross-sectional study
BMJ Open
title Self-efficacy as a mediator in the relationship between clinical learning environment and core nursing competence of intern nursing students: a multicentre cross-sectional study
title_full Self-efficacy as a mediator in the relationship between clinical learning environment and core nursing competence of intern nursing students: a multicentre cross-sectional study
title_fullStr Self-efficacy as a mediator in the relationship between clinical learning environment and core nursing competence of intern nursing students: a multicentre cross-sectional study
title_full_unstemmed Self-efficacy as a mediator in the relationship between clinical learning environment and core nursing competence of intern nursing students: a multicentre cross-sectional study
title_short Self-efficacy as a mediator in the relationship between clinical learning environment and core nursing competence of intern nursing students: a multicentre cross-sectional study
title_sort self efficacy as a mediator in the relationship between clinical learning environment and core nursing competence of intern nursing students a multicentre cross sectional study
url https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/5/e094858.full
work_keys_str_mv AT xiaoxiazhang selfefficacyasamediatorintherelationshipbetweenclinicallearningenvironmentandcorenursingcompetenceofinternnursingstudentsamulticentrecrosssectionalstudy
AT xianqiongfeng selfefficacyasamediatorintherelationshipbetweenclinicallearningenvironmentandcorenursingcompetenceofinternnursingstudentsamulticentrecrosssectionalstudy
AT lanfu selfefficacyasamediatorintherelationshipbetweenclinicallearningenvironmentandcorenursingcompetenceofinternnursingstudentsamulticentrecrosssectionalstudy
AT yunxiapu selfefficacyasamediatorintherelationshipbetweenclinicallearningenvironmentandcorenursingcompetenceofinternnursingstudentsamulticentrecrosssectionalstudy
AT hongmeixie selfefficacyasamediatorintherelationshipbetweenclinicallearningenvironmentandcorenursingcompetenceofinternnursingstudentsamulticentrecrosssectionalstudy
AT tinglong selfefficacyasamediatorintherelationshipbetweenclinicallearningenvironmentandcorenursingcompetenceofinternnursingstudentsamulticentrecrosssectionalstudy
AT xiaotiansu selfefficacyasamediatorintherelationshipbetweenclinicallearningenvironmentandcorenursingcompetenceofinternnursingstudentsamulticentrecrosssectionalstudy
AT xiaojuanfeng selfefficacyasamediatorintherelationshipbetweenclinicallearningenvironmentandcorenursingcompetenceofinternnursingstudentsamulticentrecrosssectionalstudy