The Impact Of Post-COVID-19 On Nursing Students' Career Preparation Behavior

Abstract

This study attempted to determine the factors affecting the career preparation behavior among nursing students in post-COVID-19. We conducted an online descriptive survey among 160 4th grade nursing students. Data collection was done by using structured self-reported questionnaires from January to March 2022. Outcomes measures were sociodemographic characteristics, career identity, career decision level, career decision-making self-efficacy, and career preparation behavior. Descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, and multiple regression analysis were performed to find the relationship between career preparation behavior and covariates. Most of the participants were female   (63.8%, n= 102), and the age group was 22–24 years (70.6%, n = 113). The mean score of the outcome measure of the career identity (2.85±0.82), the career decision level (2.98±0.77), the career decision-making self-efficacy (4.88±0.64), and the career preparation behavior (2.72±0.71). Career preparation behavior was negatively correlated with career identity (r = -0.65, p = 0.22), while career decision level (r = 1.32, p<0.001) and career decision-making self-efficacy (r =1.55, p<0.001) were positively correlated. The factors of age, gender, and job guidance approach and guidance are highly associated with career preparation behavior. The study's results identified a significant level of employment preparation behavior. The study's results suggest that nursing institutions should formulate intervention strategies pertaining to job searches in order to encourage nursing students to engage in career preparation, mitigate mental health changes caused by career searches, and encourage positive perspectives on preferred career paths on career planning.