The effect of the training given in line with the causal attribution theory on the career barriers and causal attributions of nurses

Aim: The purpose of this research was to develop the Career Barriers in Nursing Scale (CBNS) and to identify the effect of the training given in line with the Causal Attribution Theory on career barriers and causal attributions of the nurses. Material and Method: In the study, which was conducted in two stages, the first stage was methodological, and the second stage was conducted as the real experimental model with pretest-posttest control. The population of the study consisted of 1500 nurses working in a state university hospital located in the center of Sivas province. In the first stage of the research, during the development of the CBNS, 1055 nurses were accessed. In the second stage, 75 nurses were included in the experimental group and 100 nurses were included in the control group by the simple random sampling method, which is among the probability sampling methods. The training program for Career Barriers and Causal Dimensions in Nursing, which was prepared in line with the Causal Attribution Theory, was given to the nurses in the experimental group 2 times with a one-month break. There was no intervention in the control group. The data were collected between March 2018-June 2019 through the Descriptive Characteristics Form, CBNS and Causal Dimensions Scale II (CDS II). For the evaluation of the data, the descriptive statistics, chi-squared analysis, t-test in dependent groups, t-test in independent groups and Cronbach's Alpha coefficient were used. Results: Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the CBNS is 0.94 and the scale was comprised of 5 sub-dimensions. According to the posttest, the mean score of the CDS II is 61.37±14.775, and the mean score of the CBNS is 85.63±16.502 in the experimental group; according to the posttest, the mean score of the CDS II is 57.47±14.228 and the mean score of the CBNS is 87.44±13460 in the control group. In the inter-group comparison of the posttest mean scores of the experimental and control groups, the difference between the groups in terms of the CDS II and CBNS mean scores was found significant (p<0.05). Conclusion: It was determined that the CBNS had high validity. It was found out that the training given according to the Causal Attribution Theory had an effect on the determining the causal dimensions of the career barriers perceived by nurses and making consistent causal loading towards career barriers. Keywords: Causal attribution, causal attribution theory, career, career barriers, nurse, training.