The significance of theory and clinical placement for students’ nursing competence

Method: This is a cross-sectional study of nursing students at an educational institution in Norway who completed their education in 2019.The data were collected using an online questionnaire.Nursing competence was measured using the Nurse Professional Competence Scale Short Form NPC Scale-SF .The response rate was 63%. Results:In terms of preparing them for the nursing profession, nursing students attribute statistically significant greater importance to clinical placement than theory courses in their education.The students have high scores in all competence areas, but score highest in the competence area 'Value-based nursing care' and lowest in 'Development, leadership and organisation of nursing care' .The analysis shows a correlation between students' assessments of theory and clinical placement courses and several of the nursing competence areas.Theory courses have somewhat greater significance for nursing competence than clinical placement courses. Conclusion:The study shows that students consider clinical placement courses to be the most important for their future nursing career.It also shows that theory courses have a somewhat greater significance for students' nursing competence than clinical placement courses.