Strengthening Health Systems through Nursing Education: The Role of Self-Efficacy in Academic and Clinical Competence

Introduction: The study addressed self-efficacy as a personal belief that significantly influenced the thoughts, emotions, and behaviours of nursing students. According to Bandura and Resnick, self-efficacy was defined as the perception of one's own abilities to cope with situations and achieve goals, which proved to be a key factor in academic and clinical performance.Development: During the analysis, theories from psychology and nursing were considered that explained how self-efficacy impacted professional training. Bandura argued that individuals with high self-efficacy took on challenges with greater commitment and perseverance. Resnick's theory proposed that this perception was built through real experiences, observation of models, verbal persuasion, and physiological feedback. Research showed that students with higher self-efficacy performed better academically, experienced less fatigue, and were more willing to face complex clinical situations. It was also stated that the institutional context and pedagogical support influenced the development of this competence.Conclusion: It was concluded that self-efficacy was fundamental in the training of nursing students, as it strengthened their personal confidence, clinical judgement, and ability to provide quality care. Therefore, it was recommended that academic programmes integrate strategies that foster this belief from the teaching-learning processes, thus promoting more competent, confident, and committed professionals.