SELF-EVALUATION OF NURSING STUDENTS REGARDING THEIR COMMUNICATION SKILLS

The objective of the study was to evaluate the confidence of nursing students regarding their communication skills and how prepared they felt working with different kinds of patients.Materials and methods: 160 students enrolled in nursing studies from all years of study were included in the research.An online questionnaire was constructed for the present study to gather sociodemographic and academic data.Additiona lly, self-rated items were created to collect information about students' confidence in their communication skills.Two instruments were used to evaluate their learning communication skills and interpersonal communication competence: Interpersonal Communication Competence Scale and Communication Skills Attitude Scale.Results: Nursing students who scored high on the Communication Skills Attitude Scale demonstrated greater engagement in social interactions and exhibited supportiveness and promptness in their relationships with others.Only 7.5% of participants reported receiving additional training in communication skills.Freshman students perceived communication with elderly patients more challenging co mpared to students in advanced years.Conclusions: Theoretical and practical stages of continuing education after graduating from nursing schools are essential requirements for nur ses.This ensures that they can effectively apply their knowledge and skills across various healthcare settings and cater to different categories of patients.Direct feedback during practical stages and moral support from academic teachers and clinical trainers help students to feel more confident about their communication skills.