Relationship between nurses' sense of self-efficacy and support for hospital discharge

In 2009, we began providing seminars for hospital nurses in continuing nursing care. The objective of this study was to elucidate the state of hospital discharge support by nurses who attended the seminars. The subjects were 110 nurses who attended seminars for continuing nursing care. A survey was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire. Valid responses were obtained from 109 nurses. The mean self-efficacy score was 73.5 points (maximum: 93 points, minimum 45 points). There was a significant correlation between the degree of discharge support implementation and the sense of self-efficacy. The nurses who implemented more discharge support plans had a higher sense of self-efficacy. There was also a significant correlation between the sense of self-efficacy and coordination among multiple institutions and various professionals necessary in patients' daily living after discharge. The nurses who coordinated more with multiple institutions and various professionals had a higher sense of self-efficacy. The discharge support by nurses tended to increase their sense of self-efficacy. The present study did not include questions on specific issues, and thus, it did not show exactly what increased self-efficacy. In addition, it has the limitations of a cross-sectional study. However, the study indicated that the nurses increased their self-confidence in their efforts to coordinate multiple institutions and various professionals. In the future, we will be examining the content of seminar programs in continuing nursing care.