The mediating role of spirituality on professional values and self-efficacy: a study of senior nursing students

Aim The aim of this study was to identify the significance of spirituality in enhancing self‐efficacy related to professional values in senior nursing students. Background Self‐efficacy can predict job satisfaction and performance as professional nurses in clinical settings. Senior nursing students should have the level of self‐efficacy that enables them to perform professional roles based on professional values, because they will enter clinical settings immediately after graduation. Spirituality may help senior nursing students during the transition to professional life to reflect on their skills, knowledge and situations to enhance self‐efficacy based on professional values. Design An exploratory, cross‐sectional design was used in this study. Methods A total of 194 senior nursing students in South Korea were recruited in 2014. They completed self‐reported questionnaires consisting of demographic questions, Spiritual Assessment Scale, Self‐Efficacy Scale and Nursing Professional Values inventory. A Sobel test was done to determine the mediating effect of spirituality on the relationship between nursing professional values and self‐efficacy. Results The findings showed a positive correlation between professional values, spirituality and self‐efficacy in nursing students. According to the Sobel test, spirituality had a mediating effect on the relationship between professional values and self‐efficacy in senior nursing students. Conclusion Spirituality can be a foundation that provides senior nursing students with higher self‐efficacy so that they are able to perform their professional roles based on their professional values. The findings can guide nursing educators to include spiritual development of nursing students to enhance the self‐efficacy of senior nursing students, the future of the nursing profession.