SENIOR NURSING STUDENTS' PERCEPTIONS OF PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE AFTER INTERNSHIP: A QUALITATIVE STUDY

Aim: Internship practice allows students to gain professional experience in a real clinical setting and strengthens their perceptions of professional competence. The aim of this study is to qualitatively examine nursing senior students' perceptions of professional competence after their internship.Method: The study was conducted by conducting semi-structured interviews with 18 final-year nursing students at a foundation university's faculty of health sciences in Ankara. The data was analyzed using the thematic analysis method. Participants' experiences were evaluated under five main themes.Results: Students stated that their care skills improved during the internship process, and their ability to manage the nursing process and make decisions increased. Additionally, progress in communication and empathy skills, an increase in problem-solving capacity, and the development of professional self-confidence and professional identity have been observed. It was emphasized that the challenges encountered contributed to professional development.Conclusion: Internship practice has been identified as an important educational model that positively impacts nursing students' perception of professional competence. The study highlights the need to strengthen practical training in nursing education and develop student-centered teaching strategies.