ABSTRACT
Objective To survey the status of the clinical competence and meta-cognitive ability of college nursing students, to explore the correlation between the two factors, and analyze the influencing factors of baccalaureate nursing students′ clinical skills, then explore the approach of improving the clinical competence of nursing students. Methods Totally 184 nursing students from Taishan Medical University were investigated by General Information Questionnaire, Clinical Competence Test Scale, University Students Meta Cognitive Ability Scale. Results Nursing students′ average score of meta cognition was 80.48 ± 11.97, the average score of clinical competence was 121.22 ± 22.74. The meta cognitive ability and clinical competence of nursing undergraduate students both maintained at the middle level. Meta cognitive ability was positively correlated with clinical competence. To some extent, enhancing the meta cognitive ability could help students improve the clinical competence. Conclusions To understand the status and correlation between meta cognitive ability and clinical competence can guide students to learn effectively, can help teachers play a good role in teaching effectively.