DOI: https://doi.org/10.14710/nmjn.v16i1.71246

Assessing Nursing Students’ Readiness for Clinical Practice: A Comprehensive Evaluation

*Qahtan Qasim Mohammed orcid scopus publons  -  Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Department, College of Nursing, University of Baghdad, Iraq
Taha Ahmed Faraj  -  Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Department, College of Nursing, University of Baghdad, Iraq
Kareem Rashag Sachit  -  Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Department, College of Nursing, University of Baghdad, Iraq
Open Access Copyright (c) 2026 by the Authors, Published by Department of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Diponegoro
Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Abstract

Background: Nursing students’ clinical readiness is important for a smooth transition into professional practice. However, existing studies provide only a partial understanding of preparedness, while evidence regarding the level of work readiness and its association with sociodemographic characteristics remains limited.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the level of work readiness among fourth-year nursing students and to examine its association with selected sociodemographic variables.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted across five purposively selected colleges of nursing in Iraq. The sample consisted of 550 final-year nursing students. Data were collected using a sociodemographic questionnaire and an 18-item work readiness scale. Descriptive and inferential statistics (Chi-square tests) were used for data analysis.

Results: Among the 550 nursing students, 62.7% were female, 94.5% were unmarried, and 48.2% perceived their socioeconomic status as middle. Work readiness was moderate in 57.3% of students, with a mean score of 52.43 (SD = 3.999). Significant associations were found between readiness and gender (p = .001), socioeconomic status (p = .001), educational level prior to college (p = .001), support system (p = .001), and interest in nursing (p = .001).

Conclusion: The study found that students are moderately to well prepared for their nursing careers. They demonstrate the ability to think critically and provide care in clinical contexts, as reflected in their problem-solving skills. These findings highlight the need for targeted educational and psychosocial support strategies to further enhance students’ readiness for professional practice.
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Keywords: Clinical competence; nursing education; nursing students; sociodemographic factors; work readiness
Funding: N/A

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Language : EN
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