title: Self-assessed level of competence of graduating nursing students and factors related to it.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The transition from a nursing student to a professional nurse is both challenging and stressful. Competence of graduating nursing students is related to patient safety and there is a need for assessment of competence. However, there is a lack of research on the level of competence at the moment of graduation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the level of competence of graduating nursing students based on students' self-assessments and to identify possible related factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional survey design.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data were collected using an on-line survey (the Nurse Competence Scale) in 2011 and administered to 302 graduating nursing students in Finland practicing in their final clinical placement in university hospitals. The sample contained 154 students (response rate 51%). The data were analyzed statistically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The self-assessed overall competence was on good level (66.7, VAS 0-100). The competence was highest in helping role and in diagnostic functions, being slightly lower in therapeutic interventions and work role. Pedagogical atmosphere during the final clinical placement had a statistically significantly positive correlation with the overall level of competence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Graduating nursing students have good competence at the moment of graduation based on their self-assessments. Self-assessment is a basis for competence development, and systematic self-assessments should be used during the education. Teacher and supervisor assessments and knowledge-tests could be used alongside with self-assessments of competence to give a wider picture of the competence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing Science, University of Turku, Finland; Corporate Headquarters, Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa, Finland. Electronic address: satu.kajander@utu.fi.
authors.forename: Satu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kajander-Unkuri
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing Science, University of Turku, Finland; Corporate Headquarters, Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa, Finland.
authors.forename: Riitta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Meretoja
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Jouko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Katajisto
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing Science, University of Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Mikko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saarikoski
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing Science, University of Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Leena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Salminen
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing Science, University of Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Riitta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Suhonen
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing Science, University of Turku, Finland; Hospital District of South-West, Finland.
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Leino-Kilpi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012647:Self-Assessment; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Competence; Graduating nursing student; Learning environment; Nurse Competence Scale; Self-assessment