Factors that Influence Professional Socialization in Nursing Students: A Multigroup Analysis

Abstract

Background: Nursing professional socialization significantly influences the sustainable development of nursing students’ careers. This study aims to examine the factors that influence professional socialization in nursing students. Methods: This is a quantitative study of a sample of 108 nursing students (80 females and 28 males). The Simulation Learning Effectiveness Scale, Caring Assessment Report Evaluation Q-sort, Self-Reflection and Insight Scale, and Holistic Nursing Competence Scale were used to collect the data on the independent variables. The Team Skills Scale, Nursing Image as a Profession questionnaire, and Nursing Professional Commitment Scale were used to assess the level of students’ nursing professional socialization, which is an outcome construct variable. A multigroup analysis was used to examine the professional socialization research model. Results: The full model findings show that individual learning effectiveness had a significantly positive effect on nursing students’ caring behavior and on self-reflection and insight. In addition, caring behavior and self-reflection and insight had a significantly positive effect on nursing competence. Finally, nursing competence also had a significantly positive effect on nursing professional socialization. Overall, all independent variables were significant predictors of nursing professional socialization, explaining 36.7% of the variance in the integrated model of professional socialization. In addition, a permutation test revealed no differences in the two comparisons’ path coefficient estimates in the model (female vs. male). Conclusion: It is important to further strengthen nursing students’ self-learning effectiveness to promote their self-reflection and caring behavior. Increasing students’ nursing competence is a key factor in improving their professional socialization.