The aim of this study is to determine the effect of video-based laboratory practice activities in distance education on nursing students' self-efficacy and self-learning. A randomized controlled trial of intervention and control groups with pretest, posttest study. The study sample consisted of 118 nursing students registered to the online Pediatric Nursing distance education in the 2022-2023 academic year. This study was completed with the participation of 100 students, with 56 students in the video group and 44 students in the control group. In the distance education, video-based laboratory application was applied to the students in the video group. The students did a video application about 8 topics related to child health and diseases nursing. The students in the control group did not video based laboratory application, only did classic education. At the beginning and end of the study, Self-Directed Learning Instrument (SDLI) and (General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES) were applied to the students. The difference between the GSES and SDLI total and subscales pre and posttest difference mean scores were found to be higher for nursing students in the study group compared to those in the control group (p < 0.001).