Occupational Self‐Efficacy, First Workplace Choice, and Job Satisfaction Among Early‐Career Nurses in Poland: A Cross‐Sectional Study

Background The transition from education to professional practice represents a critical period in nurses’ early careers and is often accompanied by challenges related to professional adjustment, confidence, and job satisfaction. Occupational self‐efficacy and perceptions of the first workplace may play an important role in shaping early work experiences; however, their interrelationships remain insufficiently explored. Aim To explore the relationships between occupational self‐efficacy, job satisfaction, and perceived factors influencing the choice of the first workplace among early‐career nurses and to explore the potential mediating role of selected first‐job choice factors in the association between occupational self‐efficacy and job satisfaction. Methods A cross‐sectional correlational study was conducted among 150 registered nurses with up to three years of professional experience in Poland. Participants were recruited using a convenience sampling method. Data were collected in 2024 using an online questionnaire including the Job Satisfaction Survey, the Short Version of the Occupational Self‐Efficacy Scale, and author‐designed items assessing perceived factors influencing the choice of the first workplace. The study was conducted in accordance with STROBE guidelines. Descriptive statistics, correlation analyses, and exploratory mediation analyses using bootstrapping procedures were performed to examine potential indirect associations. Results Occupational self‐efficacy was positively associated with overall job satisfaction and several satisfaction domains, with the strongest association observed for the nature of work ( r = 0.45, p < 0.001). Higher self‐efficacy was also associated with greater importance attributed to organizational characteristics and alignment of the workplace with personal interests and career development plans ( ρ = 0.18 and p = 0.025), while convenient commuting options were perceived as less important ( ρ = −0.22 and p = 0.008). Exploratory mediation analyses identified statistically significant indirect effects. Organization of work, alignment with personal interests, alignment with career development plans, and commuting convenience were identified as mediators of the association between occupational self‐efficacy and job satisfaction. Most models indicated partial mediation, with occasional full mediation and suppression effects observed. Conclusions The findings highlight the role of occupational self‐efficacy and perceived fit with the first workplace in shaping job satisfaction among early‐career nurses during the transition to practice. Supporting professional confidence, reflective career decision‐making, and well‐organized work environments may contribute to more positive early professional experiences.