Correlation Between Satisfaction with the Field of Study and Clinical Competence in Nursing Students

Background: Satisfaction with the field of study can affect the acquisition of knowledge and skills necessary for that profession. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between satisfaction with the field of study and clinical competence in nursing students. Methods: This descriptive correlational study was performed on 167 nursing students in the seventh and eighth semesters in the School of Nursing and Midwifery of Islamic Azad University, Karaj Branch, Iran, from 2020 to 2021. Sampling was done by a purposeful sample method. Data collection tools were the demographic information form, the Satisfaction with the Field of Study Questionnaire, and Students' Clinical Competency Questionnaire, which were completed by the self-report method. Data were analyzed by SPSS software version 16 using Pearson correlation coefficient, chi-square test, and t-test and reported by descriptive statistics of mean, standard deviation, frequency, and percentage. Results: The clinical competence of nursing students in the seventh and eighth semesters was moderate (53.3%), and 56.9% of them were very satisfied with their field of study. A weak positive and significant correlation was obtained between satisfaction with the field of study and the total score of clinical competence (P = 0.001, r = 0.260). Conclusions: With increasing satisfaction with the field of study, the clinical competence of nursing students increased. This finding emphasizes the need to invest in strategies to promote increased satisfaction with the field of study to help develop the clinical competence of nursing students.