Purpose: This study was conducted to determine the stress perceptions and social competence and outcome expectation levels of senior nursing students and to examine the relationship between stress perceptions and social competence outcome expectation levels.
Materials and Methods: This descriptive-correlation type study was conducted at the Faculty of Nursing of a state university. The research population consisted of senior nursing students (N=288) studying at the faculty. The study was completed with 180 students who agreed to participate in the research. "Student Introduction Form", "Perceived Stress Scale for Nursing Students" and "Social Competence and Social Outcome Expectations Scale" were used in data collection. Non-parametric tests were used to evaluate the data.
Results: Statistically significant differences were found between the student's scores on the Perceived Stress Scale and gender, smoking, clinical competence, and self-definition (p<0.05). It has been shown that students' social security, high-income levels, and seeing themselves as competent in the clinic increase their Social Competence and Social Outcome Expectations scores, and this difference is significant (p<0.05). A negative relationship was found between HÖASÖ and SYSSB Scales (r=-0.163, p=0.05 ).
Conclusion: It was found that students' feeling clinically competent and having a calm nature reduced their stress levels, and finding themselves competent in practice increased their social competence and social outcome levels. It is recommended that students use new and technology-based training techniques to increase their proficiency before starting practice and to make them feel competent in clinical practice
