Abstract

Objectives: The aim of the study was performed as a descriptive and cross-sectional analysis to investigate nurses’ self-efficacy perceptions with problem solving abilities.

Methods: The aim of the study was composed of the nurses working in a university hospital, while the sampling consisted of those accepting to take part (N=392). The data were collected through the “Nurses’ Information Questionnaire”, the “Self-Efficacy-Scale (SES)” and the “Problem Solving Inventory (PSI)”.

Results: It was determined that nurses who participated in the study had an age average of 26,76±5,90 years and 67,3% were women, 52,0% single, 52,3% had graduated from medical vocational high school, 36,7% had under graduate and higher education and 4,6% post graduate education. It was also determined that nurses had been working in the service (52,3%) for approximately 6,19±4,55 years according to the shift system (64,0%) under the title of nurse (93,9%). Mean scores of nurses’ SES and PSI were 86,93±12,76 and 93,32±22,24, respectively. A statistically negative powerful and higher significant association was determined to be present between the averages of nurses’ SES and PSI scores (p≤0,01). Besides, it was observed that factors affecting self-efficacy perception were problem solving skill, state of receiving education on problem solving after graduation and occupational title according to the effect rate respectively and factors affecting problem solving skill were independent variables like occupational experience duration according to the effect rate made statistically significant contributions respectively (p≤0,01).

Conclusion: It was found that nurses had a good level of self-efficacy perception and moderate level of problem solving skills. Furthermore, there is a strong correlation between self-efficacy perception and problem-solving skills, and the increase or decrease in levels affects each other.