Self-Efficacy With Application to Nursing Education: A Concept Analysis

TOPIC: Concept analysis and self-efficacy. PURPOSE: This article analyzes the concept self-efficacy and its relationship to nursing education using Walker and Avant's methodology. SOURCES: Published literature. CONCLUSION: Nursing literature suggests increasing students' perceived self-efficacy will help to narrow the theory-practice gap. Self-efficacy is a cognitive variable that affects performance behaviors and affective processes. Perceived self-efficacy can be influenced by a direct experience, vicarious experience, or verbal persuasion. Individuals with high levels of self-efficacy demonstrate the defining attributes of confidence, perceived capability, and perseverance.