Perceptions of confidence among Saudi nursing interns during internship program: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Saudi nursing students are trained in theoretical and clinical nursing competencies for four years before transition to newly graduated nurses through a one-year internship program. The transition period is crucial as nursing students have low confidence without adequate clinical experience.

OBJECTIVES: Validate and culturally adapt the Arabic version of the Self-Efficacy for Clinical Evaluation Scale (SECS) and explore nursing interns perceived confidence (self-efficacy).

DESIGN: Cross-sectional.

SETTING: Four public tertiary training hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

METHODS: A survey was conducted among nursing interns. Validity, reliability, and the cultural relevance of the Arabic-translated instrument was determined. Tests for differences and correlations were undertaken.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Perceived self-efficacy and impor.tance of learning objectives.

SAMPLE SIZE: 300 Saudi nursing interns.

RESULTS: The Arabic version of SECS was successfully adapted cross-culturally and was valid. Reliability tests showed Cronbach's a=.95 for confidence and Cronbach's a=0.96 for the importance subscales. The overall mean (SD) for perceived confidence and importance of clinical evaluation were 3.7 (0.9) and 4.1 (0.8), respectively. Gender (P less than .001), length of internship (P=.009), and training hospital (P less than .001) were significantly correlated and had a medium effect size with perceived self-efficacy.

CONCLUSION: Gaining knowledge that the gender, length of intern.ship and area of training affect the perceptions of the Saudi nursing interns towards self-efficacy can help preceptors formulate better strategies in developing nursing intern competence and gaining self-efficacy as they move from the academic to clinical nursing practice. The knowledge gathered in this study should be beneficial to nursing administrators, faculty, and mentors/preceptors.

LIMITATIONS: Results may not be generalizable due to the limitations in the setting and there are other factors not included in the study that may have explained variances in perceived self-efficacy.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST: None.