Predictors of Core Competencies Among Clinical Instructors in Nursing Management Practicums: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND: Clinical instructors in nursing management practicums play a critical role in fostering students' managerial and leadership competencies, yet limited empirical evidence exists regarding factors that predict their core competencies. PURPOSE: To examine instructional burden, experience in providing instruction on nursing management concepts, and core competencies, and to identify predictors of core competencies among clinical instructors. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive design was used with 92 clinical instructors from 8 hospitals in South Korea. Validated instruments assessed instructional burden, instructional experience, and core competencies. RESULTS: Instructional experience showed a significant positive correlation with core competencies. Hierarchical regression identified instructional experience and educational attainment as significant predictors, explaining 39.6% of the variance. CONCLUSIONS: Instructional experience and higher educational attainment are key determinants of core competencies among clinical instructors. Structured mentoring, continuing education, and strengthened academic-clinical collaboration are recommended to enhance instructional capacity and standardize nursing management practicum education.