Exploring clinical competency of nursing students and related factors

Introduction: The clinical competence of nursing students is a core factor in relation to professional standards and patient safety. Objectives: This study aims to determine the clinical competence of nursing students and related factors. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study, combining quantitative and qualitative methods, was conducted on 306 nursing students who participated in clinical practice at the hospital. The research content consists of 3 parts: (1) General characteristics of the research objects; (2) The clinical competence of nursing students is assessed by the Clinical Competency Measurement Tool questionnaire consisting of 34 questions divided into 5 domains: Nursing process, Nursing skills, Nursing Leadership, Communication, Professional development; and (3) The influencing factors and propose solutions to improve clinical competence. Results: The clinical competence of nursing students reached the average level with 3.47 ± 0.34/5 points; the Professional development ability got the highest score with 3.60 ± 0.45 points and the Nursing skill got the lowest score with 3.29 ± 0.44 points. There was a statistically significant relationship between the clinical competence of nursing students and the level of satisfaction with clinical practice (p<0.001); clinical practice learning method (p=0.001) and grade level (p<0.001). The results of the qualitative analysis show a more comprehensive view of the factors affecting the clinical competence of nursing students, including factors from individual students, factors related to clinical lecturers and the clinical practice environment. Conclusion: The clinical competence of nursing students reached the average level. It is necessary to improve the level of clinical practice satisfaction as well as to find out appropriate strategies and learning methods for nursing students to enhance their clinical competence. Key words: clinical competence, clinical practice, nursing students.