Enhancing Nursing Care Quality: The Critical Role of Time Management and Self-Efficacy in Professional Success

Background: Growing demands on healthcare systems necessitate streamlined nursing practices. Two interrelated competencies, time management and professional self-efficacy, play a decisive role in determining nursing performance and patient care outcomes. This study investigated the impact of these abilities on nursing care quality, providing evidence-based recommendations for professional development. Methods: A descriptive–correlational survey was conducted in 2024 at teaching and healthcare facilities affiliated with Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Using stratified random sampling, 350 nurses were selected. Data were gathered through validated instruments: the Time Management Questionnaire, the Professional Self-Efficacy Scale, and the Quality of Nursing Care Inventory. Analyses were performed using SPSS version 24, applying t-tests, one-way ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation, and multiple linear regression. Results: Most respondents reported moderate levels of time management (80.3%), self-efficacy (61.7%), and nursing care quality (57.1%). Notable associations emerged between these competencies and demographic characteristics, including age, gender, work tenure, and prior training in time management. Regression analysis identified age, work experience, self-efficacy, coordination, and organizational ability as significant predictors, jointly accounting for 30% of the variance in care quality. Conclusion: The findings reveal scope for improvement in nurses’ time use and self-efficacy. Structured educational initiatives targeting these skills could substantially enhance the quality of inpatient care.