Purpose: This study investigated the interaction between environmental factors (structural empowerment and nursing leadership) and self-efficacy for nursing practice, to determine if self-efficacy could contribute to more professional nursing behaviors. Increasing self-efficacy for nursing practice may improve nurses’ professional practice behaviors because individuals not only react to environmental influences, but also have the ability to exercise self-influence in order to shape their social systems proactively and generatively. Theoretical/Conceptual Framework: A new theory was developed that suggests the interaction between environmental factors such as structural empowerment and nursing leadership, and self-efficacy may determine whether a nurse’s practice behavior is either professional or more task-focused. The effect of the environment on practice, one’s interpretation of that effect, and belief in the ability to do something about it, may affect one’s resolve to practice according to professional standards. Subjects/Method: The study used a non-experimental survey design. 500 nurses throughout Michigan were randomly sampled and 364 nurses responded, resulting in 266 usable surveys. Path analysis was used to demonstrate both direct and indirect relationships. Mediation was also tested through Sobel’s tests. Results: Self-efficacy partially mediated the relationship between structural empowerment and professional practice behaviors. Sobel’s test was not significant when self-efficacy was proposed to mediate the relationship between structural empowerment and professional practice behaviors in the group who perceived weak nursing leadership, but the test was significant when the same relationships were proposed in the group who perceived strong nursing leadership, as well as in the model where nursing leadership was not included. Conclusions: Hospitals may need to provide opportunity, information, resources, and support before staff nurses believe they can exercise control over their work lives. Nurse managers may want to provide opportunities for enhancing self-efficacy, such as role modeling and verbal persuasion; recognizing that through improved self-efficacy, practice behaviors may improve as well.
Session #1202 - Professional Nursing Practice
The 29th Annual MNRS Research Conference (April 1-4, 2005)