The effectiveness of a career efficacy enhancement program for KOREAN nursing students: A quasi-experimental study

BACKGROUND: Nursing students tend not to consider their career paths during their college years but if they enter nursing without having established a career identity during college, they will have low job satisfaction and high turnover intentions. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a career efficacy enhancement program on nursing students' career decision, identity, preparation behavior, and efficacy. DESIGN: A two-group, quasi-experimental design was used. SETTING: The study took place at two universities in South Korea. PARTICIPANTS: Overall, 69 baccalaureate nursing students participated. METHODS: Two program booklets and a workbook were developed for a career efficacy enhancement program that ran in 2018. Data were collected at three timepoints and analyzed using a Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and a repeated measures ANOVA. RESULTS: Career identity differed significantly between groups (p = 0.005), measurement times (p = 0.000), and in the interaction between groups and measurement times (p = 0.000). Career decision differed significantly between groups (p = 0.009), measurement times (p = 0.013), and in the interaction between groups and measurement times (p = 0.002). Career preparation behavior did not differ significantly between groups (p = 0.550) but did differ significantly between measurement times (p = 0.000) and in the interaction between groups and measurement times (p = 0.001). Career efficacy did not differ significantly between groups (p = 0.213) but did differ significantly between measurement times (p = 0.000) and in the interaction between groups and measurement times (p = 0.000). CONCLUSION: The career efficacy enhancement program improved nursing students' career decision skills, identities, preparation behavior, and efficacy.