Lauren R Muñoz1. 1. University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 1200 Volunteer Blvd., Knoxville, TN 37996-4515, USA. Electronic address: lbrothe1@vols.utk.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Nurses with graduate degrees play pivotal roles in nursing care, education, and research. Alarming trends of a nurse faculty shortage and high levels of graduate nursing student attrition highlight the need to better understand the experiences of graduate nursing students. PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper is to define the concept of self-efficacy in graduate students as it pertains to enrollment, retention, and graduation. METHODS: Using Rodgers' Evolutionary Method of concept analysis, self-efficacy was analyzed from the literature of various disciplines, including nursing. RESULTS: Antecedents, attributes, and consequences of self-efficacy were identified from 23 studies. Self-efficacy in graduate students is sourced by perceived, positive experiences. Its attributes are personal, malleable, goal-driven, a resource, knowledge, and trust. Graduate student self-efficacy results in productive thoughts, feelings, and actions that culminate in successful outcomes. CONCLUSION: Self-efficacy has been identified by researchers in other disciplines as a helpful concept for understanding why and how graduate students initiate, continue, and complete their degrees. With a dearth of research exploring nursing graduate student self-efficacy, qualitative research is needed to understand the role this concept plays in graduate nursing education. Nevertheless, the findings of this concept analysis may serve as a starting point to inform nursing graduate education practice.
BACKGROUND: Nurses with graduate degrees play pivotal roles in nursing care, education, and research. Alarming trends of a nurse faculty shortage and high levels of graduate nursing student attrition highlight the need to better understand the experiences of graduate nursing students. PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper is to define the concept of self-efficacy in graduate students as it pertains to enrollment, retention, and graduation. METHODS: Using Rodgers' Evolutionary Method of concept analysis, self-efficacy was analyzed from the literature of various disciplines, including nursing. RESULTS: Antecedents, attributes, and consequences of self-efficacy were identified from 23 studies. Self-efficacy in graduate students is sourced by perceived, positive experiences. Its attributes are personal, malleable, goal-driven, a resource, knowledge, and trust. Graduate student self-efficacy results in productive thoughts, feelings, and actions that culminate in successful outcomes. CONCLUSION: Self-efficacy has been identified by researchers in other disciplines as a helpful concept for understanding why and how graduate students initiate, continue, and complete their degrees. With a dearth of research exploring nursing graduate student self-efficacy, qualitative research is needed to understand the role this concept plays in graduate nursing education. Nevertheless, the findings of this concept analysis may serve as a starting point to inform nursing graduate education practice.