Abstract
A persistent gap between nurses’ perceived confidence and their actual performance of clinical skills poses risks to patient safety, quality of care, and workforce preparedness. The purpose of this study was to examine how internal factors—particularly self-efficacy and perceived ability—and external factors, including departmental climate and gender, influence the execution of core nursing procedures.
Limited research has evaluated how self-efficacy and perceived ability translate into consistent performance across diverse clinical environments. Addressing this gap is essential for developing evidence-based strategies that enhance competence, promote safe practice, and strengthen the global nursing workforce.
A cross-sectional study was conducted using validated self-report questionnaires assessing self-efficacy, perceived ability, workload, departmental climate, and performance of 18 core nursing procedures. The sample included 264 registered nurses from multiple hospital departments.
Findings revealed a significant discrepancy between perceived ability and actual skill performance, with perceived ability substantially higher (p < .001). Self-efficacy emerged as a strong predictor of both perceived ability and performance. Perceived ability partially mediated the association between self-efficacy and performance, suggesting that strengthening self-efficacy may directly and indirectly enhance clinical competence. Departmental differences were observed, with internal medicine outperforming ambulatory and maternity settings. Gender moderated outcomes: although female nurses reported lower perceived ability than males, this difference disappeared at higher levels of self-efficacy. Predictors collectively accounted for over half of the variance in performance.
This study highlights the need for targeted interventions that build self-efficacy, cultivate supportive departmental climates, and reduce gender-related disparities. Such initiatives can advance professional development, improve patient safety, and support global efforts to strengthen nursing capacity.
Implications for Nursing Practice: Implementing self-efficacy-enhancing strategies, such as competency-based training, structured feedback, and supportive leadership, may reduce discrepancies between perceived and actual performance. These findings offer a framework for improving skill reliability, promoting quality care, and supporting workforce resilience across healthcare systems worldwide.
Notes
Reference list included in attached slide deck.
Sigma Membership
Omega Lambda
Lead Author Affiliation
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Cross-Sectional
Research Approach
Quantitative Research
Keywords:
Academic-Clinical Partnership, Continuing Education, Teaching and Learning Strategies, Confidence, Task Performance, Clinical Competence, Nursing Practice, Professional Practice, Self-Efficacy, Factor Analysis
Recommended Citation
Danino, Efrat, "Strengthening Self-Efficacy to Reduce the Confidence–Performance Gap in Nursing Skill Execution" (2026). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 331.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2026/presentations_2026/331
Conference Name
37th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Conference Year
2026
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2026-09-29
Strengthening Self-Efficacy to Reduce the Confidence–Performance Gap in Nursing Skill Execution
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
A persistent gap between nurses’ perceived confidence and their actual performance of clinical skills poses risks to patient safety, quality of care, and workforce preparedness. The purpose of this study was to examine how internal factors—particularly self-efficacy and perceived ability—and external factors, including departmental climate and gender, influence the execution of core nursing procedures.
Limited research has evaluated how self-efficacy and perceived ability translate into consistent performance across diverse clinical environments. Addressing this gap is essential for developing evidence-based strategies that enhance competence, promote safe practice, and strengthen the global nursing workforce.
A cross-sectional study was conducted using validated self-report questionnaires assessing self-efficacy, perceived ability, workload, departmental climate, and performance of 18 core nursing procedures. The sample included 264 registered nurses from multiple hospital departments.
Findings revealed a significant discrepancy between perceived ability and actual skill performance, with perceived ability substantially higher (p < .001). Self-efficacy emerged as a strong predictor of both perceived ability and performance. Perceived ability partially mediated the association between self-efficacy and performance, suggesting that strengthening self-efficacy may directly and indirectly enhance clinical competence. Departmental differences were observed, with internal medicine outperforming ambulatory and maternity settings. Gender moderated outcomes: although female nurses reported lower perceived ability than males, this difference disappeared at higher levels of self-efficacy. Predictors collectively accounted for over half of the variance in performance.
This study highlights the need for targeted interventions that build self-efficacy, cultivate supportive departmental climates, and reduce gender-related disparities. Such initiatives can advance professional development, improve patient safety, and support global efforts to strengthen nursing capacity.
Implications for Nursing Practice: Implementing self-efficacy-enhancing strategies, such as competency-based training, structured feedback, and supportive leadership, may reduce discrepancies between perceived and actual performance. These findings offer a framework for improving skill reliability, promoting quality care, and supporting workforce resilience across healthcare systems worldwide.
Description
This study examined how self-efficacy, perceived ability, departmental climate, and gender influence the gap between nurses’ confidence and actual performance of clinical skills. Self-efficacy predicted both perceived ability and performance, and departmental and gender-based differences emerged. Findings support targeted strategies to strengthen self-efficacy and enhance clinical competence globally.