| The health care system is facing an unprecedented demand for nurses. The demand potentially will result in a nursing shortage of 808,000 registered nurses (RNs) in the US by 2020. Retention of RNs and especially new and younger RNs is critical to reducing the potential shortage. Very little is known about effective retention strategies for new and younger RNs. The Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) contains a performance (retention) model and was used as the framework for this study. Self-efficacy and outcome expectations are key SCCT variables that predict retention. Instruments to measure nursing practice self-efficacy (NPSE) and nursing practice outcome expectations (NPOE) were developed for this study. Based on analyses of the responses of 526 baccalaureate nursing students, the results indicated that students differentiated NPSE into Global and Patient self-efficacies and differentiated NPOE into External and Internal outcome expectations. Correlations between the NPSEs and the NPOEs and students' demographic, learning experiences, and goals indicated significant relationships. The NPSEs and NPOEs significantly, but weakly, predicted students' future goals. Findings from this study could assist with developing appropriate retention strategies for new and younger RNs. |
