Clinical Performance Self-Efficacy and Professional Readiness of Senior Nursing Students who Received Online Practice Education in the Pandemic Period

Objective: This study was applied to examine the clinical performance self-efficacy and professional readiness of senior nursing students who received online education in the pandemic period. Methods: The study, applied in a descriptive and correlational design, was carried out at the faculty of health sciences of a state university in Istanbul between January and May 2022. The population of the study consisted of 4th year nursing students (n=246). The research participant were 173 students. An introductory information form, Self-Efficacy in Clinical Performance Scale (SECP) and a questionnaire form for professional readiness of nursing students were used to collect data. In addition to descriptive statistics, t-test, analysis of variance and correlation were used to evaluate the data. Results: It was determined that the SECP scores of the students (69.31; SD=47.34) did not show a significant difference according to gender, graduated high school and cumulative grade point average. It was determined that there was no significant relationship between the SECP score and the feeling ready for professional psychological difficulties (r=0.144; p= .05). It was determined that there was an intermediate, positive and significant relationship between the SECP score average and the views on other professional readiness. Conclusion: It was seen that the students participating in the study had high level of Self-Efficacy in Clinical Performance and a moderate level of professional readiness. It was determined that as the self-efficacy in clinical performance of the students increased so did their perception of professional readiness.