Self-Perceived Professional Preparedness of Final-Year Nursing Students for Entering the Profession

Introduction. Nursing students’ preparedness forentering their professional careers is crucial for ensuringquality healthcare.Aim. To evaluate the self-perceived preparedness offinal-year nursing students as they transition intothe nursing profession focusing on clinical competencies,evidence-based practice, administrative skills,and patient-centered care.Methods. A cross-sectional observational study wasconducted among 200 final-year nursing studentsfrom the Catholic University of Croatia and the Universityof Applied Health Sciences. Data were collectedusing the Professional Preparedness of NursingStudents (PPNS) questionnaire.Results. Most respondents rated their readiness asexcellent. This perception was more prevalent amonggraduate students (54.2%) compared to undergraduatestudents (44.4%). Part-time students reportedsignificantly higher levels of perceived readinesscompared to full-time students (77.94 vs. 71.50).Conclusion. Final-year nursing students feel adequatelyprepared to enter the nursing profession andcommence their professional practice. These findingshighlight the importance of recognizing diverse studentexperiences and needs in designing educationalprograms to enhance professional competence.