Reported self-efficacy of nursing clinical instructors in a bachelor’s of science in nursing program

Abstract

Clinical instructors play a significant role in the development of safe and competent nursing students. When nurses beginning their career as a clinical instructor, a substantial gap in knowledge can existence in the expectations of this new role. A deficiency of formal education in nursing education or orientation to this position can lead to a lack of self-efficacy and knowledge among clinical instructors. Research supports that a formal orientation and training increases feelings of self-efficacy among clinical instructors. The purpose of this study was to evaluate an online educational program on clinical instructor’s knowledge and self-efficacy towards teaching in a pre-licensure bachelors of science in nursing program. A pre-test/post-test design was utilized to assess changes in knowledge and self-efficacy immediately before and after the intervention for ten clinical instructors. Directly following the training, knowledge scores were measured with a statically significant result. In addition, immediately after the training and three months after the training, self-efficacy scores were measured and found to be statically significantly. In conclusion, the educational intervention was found to be statistically significant in improving the knowledge and self-efficacy scores among clinical instructors in the program as evidenced by the pre-test/post-tests results. This program was cost-effective to implement as there was no cost to the school of nursing or clinical instructors. The instructors could complete the online training from any location that had internet access and during any time of the day or night at their convenience.