The contemporary digital era has prompted higher education institutions to transition their pedagogical and learning frameworks into online environments. Successful integration of a student into this evolving learning ecosystem relies fundamentally on their digital literacy competence and self-confidence in utilizing online technologies. Employing a descriptive and correlational design, this study examined the relationship between digital literacy levels and self-efficacy regarding online technologies among 311 nursing students at a public university during the 2023–2024 academic year. The results demonstrated a positive and statistically significant correlation (p0.000) between the two competencies, suggesting that higher levels of self-efficacy in using online tools are associated with enhanced digital literacy. Furthermore, demographic characteristics such as gender, age, and grade level were found to significantly influence both variables. Simple linear regression analysis revealed that self-efficacy is a significant predictor of both general and cognitive digital literacy. These findings support the premise that Generation Z students, having grown up with intense exposure to digital technology, exhibit greater self-confidence in online learning and possess more advanced digital skills. This study highlights the critical necessity of integrating digital competence training into nursing curricula and provides a solid foundation for future research.
Handan Aydın Kahraman (Wed,) studied this question.