Assessing Professional Competencies Among Undergraduate Nurses: An Exploratory Study

AIM The study aimed to identify nursing students' professional competencies and examine which factors of the clinical learning environment affect these competencies. BACKGROUND Professional competencies are vital for the quality and safety of nursing practice. The learning environment is important for the development of professional competencies. METHOD Data were collected from 178 nursing students using the Clinical Learning Environment and Supervision Scale and the Nursing Professional Competencies Scale-Short Form. RESULTS The highest competency was achieved in value-based nursing care; the lowest competency was achieved in development, leadership, and organization of nursing. Factors such as positive pedagogical atmosphere, nursing care on the ward, and good supervisory relationship affected learning and, in turn, improved professional competencies. CONCLUSION The results establish a link between the clinical environment and reported professional competencies, leading to a call for more focused coverage of these factors in the academic curricula.