A Study on the Effect of Nursing Students’ Major Satisfaction and Nursing Professionalism on Career Preparation Behavior in a Non-face-to-face Educational Environment Caused by COVID-19

Background: Career preparation behavior is a challenge among nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic.Nursing students' adaptation to a non-face-to-face educational environment, lack of interaction with others, and fear of infectious disease may affect career preparation behavior. Objectives:The purpose of this study was to identify factors that influence the career preparation behavior in the non-face-to-face educational environment caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: Data were collected in October 2022 from 130 nursing students from a college in City A. A total of 119 questionnaires were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, a one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and stepwise multiple regression. Results:The findings show that major satisfaction had a significant positive correlation with career preparation behavior (r=0.56,p<0.001).Nursing professionalism showed a significant positive correlation with career preparation behavior (r=0.57,p<0.001).The factors influencing career preparation behavior included major satisfaction, nursing professionalism, and satisfaction with clinical practice.Nursing professionalism was the most influential factor (β=0.35), followed by major satisfaction (β=0.33).Together they had an explanatory power of 37%. Conclusions:The results of this study indicate that nursing college students who experienced the COVID-19 pandemic should search for ways to increase their major satisfaction and nursing professionalism programs should be increased to improve career preparation behavior.