PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate factors influencing career preparation behavior among male nursing students in South Korea. METHODS: Data were collected from May 25 to June 17, 2018 and a total of 158 male nursing students participated in this study. Career decision making self-efficacy, military duty planning, and career preparation behavior were measured using a structured questionnaire. Collected data were analyzed with SPSS 25.0 for windows. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference in career preparation behavior of participants according to entrance motivation and desired career after graduation. There were statistically significant correlations between career decision making self-efficacy and career preparation behavior (r=.65, p < .001), and between military duty planning and career preparation behavior (r=.45, p < .001). The influential factors for career preparation behavior were career decision making self-efficacy (β=.64, p < .001), and military duty planning (β=.42, p < .001). These factors accounted for 42% of the variance in career preparation behavior. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that to improve career preparation behavior for male nursing students, it is necessary to enhance career decision making self-efficacy and military duty planning.
Career Choice ; Decision Making ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Military Personnel ; Motivation ; Nursing ; Students, Nursing