Using Social Cognitive Career Theory to Enhance Care Quality

BACKGROUND: Social cognitive career theory could explain nurses' turnover intention. However, little is known about how the three core elements of this theory could contribute to nurse-assessed care outcomes, that is, the five aspects of care quality. AIM: To examine how self-efficacy, outcome expectations and career interest are related to nurse-assessed care quality aspects. METHOD: Three-wave data were collected from 438 registered nurses in a major hospital in Taiwan. The elements of social cognitive career theory were measured by using validated scales on self-efficacy, outcome expectations, career interest and care quality aspects. RESULTS: Self-efficacy is positively related to outcome expectations and career interest, whilst career interest is positively related to the following five care quality aspects: assurance, reliability, responsibility, empathy and tangibles. CONCLUSIONS: Social cognitive career theory provided an effective framework to identify potential new means to uplift care quality. Increased career interest could be an important means to enhance care quality. Nurse managers could devise means to enhance nurses' self-efficacy and outcome expectations and subsequently improve care quality.