Determining Self-Efficacy of Nurses Who Graduated From Distance Education Because of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: The current literature states that distance education has caused a lack of professional skills, regression of existing professional skills ( Kaya & Akin Isik, 2021 ; Kürtüncü & Kurt, 2020 ), a lack of self-confidence, and feelings of inadequacy among nursing students ( George et al., 2020 ). The current study examined the professional self-efficacy of nurses who graduated from distance education because of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Method: This multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted between November 2020 and June 2022 with 164 nurses who graduated from distance education in 2020–2021 from three faculties of health sciences. Results: Professional self-efficacy of the nurses was found to be above average. Male nurses and nurses who believed distance education had a negative impact on their professional skills had significantly higher professional self-efficacy. Some nurses reported that their professional theoretical knowledge was insufficient and defined the effect of distance education on their professional skills as relatively negative. Conclusion: Most of the nurses expressed that distance education had a negative effect on their professional self-efficacy and working life. [ J Contin Educ Nurs. 2023;54(10):480–488.]