Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was designed to identify the self concept and clinical competency of nurses in hospitals and to examine the relationship between two concepts.
METHODS
A questionnaire was used for data collection which was done from July 1 to July 30 in 2005. The respondents were 267 staff nurses in a university hospital and general hospitals in two cities. The instruments were Son's(2002) self concept scale and Lee's(2002) clinical competency scale. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression using SPSS-WIN.
RESULTS
The results of this study were summarized as follows: First, the total mean score of self concept was 2.56, and clinical competency was 2.59 on a 4 point scale. Second, the self concept and clinical competency were significantly correlated. Third, the results of multiple regression showed that self concept explained 45.2% of clinical competency.
CONCLUSION
Self concept has a strong influence on clinical competency. Therefore, individualized nursing management strategies and education programs must be developed in order to increase a nurses self concept.

• Keywords: Nurse; Self-concept; Clinical competency