Path Analysis of Career Decision-making Among Nursing Students: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study

A career refers to all the work-related activities and experiences that occur throughout an individual's life. As healthcare technology advances, jobs become more diverse, making nursing students' careers increasingly important. However, little is known about the career decision-making process of nursing students. To address this, we investigated how nursing students decide about their careers. This study aimed to conduct a path analysis of career decisions among nursing students based on the social cognitive model of career self-management.

This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. It recruited junior and senior nursing students from 18 universities in a metropolitan area of South Korea. In total, 439 nursing students participated in the study. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire between May 15 and June 5, 2023. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and path analysis.

The hypothesized model showed acceptable model fit indices. The path analysis showed that career decision-making self-efficacy (β = 0.52, p < .001), career outcome expectation (β = 0.11, p = .041), and nursing competence (β = 0.11, p = .046) directly impacted career decisions. Furthermore, nursing competence (β = 0.29, p < .001), satisfaction with the nursing major (β = 0.13, p < .001), and the learning environment (β = 0.12, p < .001) indirectly influenced career decisions through the mediation of career decision-making self-efficacy and career outcome expectation.

Career decision-making self-efficacy and nursing competence are crucial factors in nursing students' career decisions. The proposed model provides a foundation for developing strategies to enhance nursing students' career decision-making. Nursing educators and institutions can use this model to design and implement a tailored career education curriculum that empowers nursing students to manage and advance their careers effectively.