The significance of self-directed learning readiness, academic self-efficacy, and problem-solving ability among filipino nursing students

Abstract

A professional skill that permits nursing students to carry out nursing interventions in the workplace is the ability to solve health care problems. This is essential if they want to become professional nurses. Educators have been attempting to establish effective instructional techniques to improve nursing students' problem-solving abilities. This study examined the relationship between problem-solving ability, academic self-efficacy, and self-directed learning readiness (SDLR) among nursing students. This study utilized a descriptive correlational study and recruited 170 nursing students in a private higher education institution in the Philippines. Standardized questionnaires were distributed, and data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results show that there is a significant indirect association between problem-solving ability and SDLR (r = -0.525, p < 0.001). Secondly, there is a significant direct association between SDLR and academic self-efficacy (r = 0.549, p < 0.001). Lastly, there is a significant indirect association between academic self-efficacy and problem-solving ability (r = -0.505, p < 0.001). The findings substantiate the assumptions of the study that academic self-efficacy, SDLR, and problem-solving ability of students have relationships with each other. Thus, students who are self-directed learners and are confident with their abilities of success in school tasks are able to solve complex problems or issues. Future research may be explored using longitudinal designs to be able to ascertain the causal link and directionality of the variables related to the present study.