Implications for staff development of perceived self-efficacy in nurses who changed to home care practice

As reform activities continue to restructure health care, traditional roles of nurses are being reshaped and redefined. Many nurses displaced by organizational downsizing are seeking employment "outside of the hospital walls," including home care practice. Novice home care nurses may lack confidence in their ability to care for clients in the home. The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which perceived self-efficacy is associated with job satisfaction in nurses who have recently changed from hospital-based practice to home care. Self-efficacy correlated significantly with job satisfaction. Nurses with high perceptions of self-efficacy tended to be more satisfied with their jobs. Using the theoretical framework of self-efficacy, educators can structure orientation programs to enhance the new nurse's perception of self-efficacy and, thereby, increase job satisfaction.