Assessing Professional Competencies Among Undergraduate Jordanian Nursing Students: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction: To make sure that nursing students are capable of providing high-quality care and are adequately prepared for the workforce, it is imperative to evaluate the professional abilities of undergraduate nurses.

Objectives: This study aims to assess the core professional competencies among undergraduate nursing students and evaluate the mean differences between professional competencies with student's demographic characteristics.

Materials and methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional comparative design was used. A total of 150 nursing students were recruited using the convenient sampling method. Data were collected using the Nurse Professional Competence Scale (NPCS)-short version 35 items. Data were collected conveniently through an online form that was filled and submitted through a Google survey link that was started from February 8, 2024, to September 21, 2024. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the demographics of participants. Pearson correlation, t-test, and ANOVA were used.

Results: The overall average competencies of nursing students were 80.8 ± 10.7 indicating high competency scores among nursing students. At .05 significant level (two-tailed), the correlation was significant between marital status (r = -.170, p = .037). Independent t-test results showed that there were no significant differences between age (t = 0.357, p = .35), marital status (t = 2.11, p = .411), and their previous taking of nursing courses (t = 3.25, p = .22). On the other hand, ANOVA indicated that age has a significant effect on overall professional competencies since higher age has an obvious effect on nursing competencies (F = 10.8, df = 2; p = .001).

Conclusion: The findings of this study can help educators and curriculum designers create programs that fill up the theoretical-clinical gaps, making graduates more capable of handling the demands of healthcare settings. Furthermore, to produce well-rounded, capable, and self-assured nursing professionals who can effectively contribute to patient care in Jordan, our findings highlight the necessity of enhancing clinical training, curriculum development, mentorship, and support system, conducting a professional development workshop, and collaborating with healthcare institutions.