The relationship among educational skills, general self-efficacy perceptions and performance in nursing instructors

In a study conducted by the World Health Organization in 2016, the core competencies of nurse educators were revealed to increase the quality of nursing education and ensure accountability. It is considered that nursing instructors' perceptions of self-efficacy and performance are effective in their educational skills.

This study aimed to examine the correlation between nursing instructors' educational skills, their perception of general self-efficacy and performance evaluation levels.

This study was conducted with a correlational design. The population of the study included 2183 nursing instructors who were working in the department of nursing of universities in Turkey, and the sample included 548 nursing instructors. Data were collected using an information form, the Educational Skills Scale, the General Self-Efficacy Scale and the Instructors' Performance Evaluation Scales Instructor Form. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistical analyses, structural equation modeling, t-test, ANOVA, correlation analysis and chisquared test.

Of the nursing instructors, 52.7% stated to have received training for academic formation skills, and 89.0% stated that this training should be mandatory. It was determined that there was a predictive relationship and a good fit between the nursing instructors' educational skills, general self-efficacy perceptions and performance. It was determined that the participants' perceptions of general self-efficacy and performance increased as their frequency of using educational skills increased, and their performance increased as their perceptions of general self-efficacy increased. It was found that the educational skills, general self-efficacy perceptions and performance of the male instructors were higher than those of the female instructors, and the participants' educational skills, general self-efficacy perceptions and performance levels increased as their age, occupational experience and academic experience increased.

It is recommended to determine the education needs of instructors regarding their educational skills, self-efficacy perceptions and performance levels, provide education based on their needs and evaluate the effectiveness of such educational activities.