Abstract

Introduction: The nursing process (NP) is not only a tool for nurses to use in providing comprehensive care to patients but also reflects th professionalism of nursing within the modern healthcare system. Nursing process competency is an essential aspect of nursing education and clinical practice, reflecting students' ability to apply theoretical knowledge to real patient care. In Vietnam, enhancing practical competence in the nursing process is a key goal in nursing training programs. 
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at Buon Ma Thuot Medical University (BMU) from January to June 2025, involving three groups of nursing students from different academic years (2nd, 3rd, and 4th years) who had already received training in the NP. The study aimed to assess their practical competence in implementing the nursing process through evaluation tools. 
Result: The results showed that the majority of nursing students demonstrated good or very good competency in practicing the NP, accounting for 59.3%, with an average score of 3.53 ± 0.47. Specifically, the proportion of students with poor or very poor knowledge of the NP was 0.6%, while those with good or very good knowledge accounted for 74.1%. Regarding attitudes, 13.6% of students showed a negative attitude, whereas 74.1% demonstrated a positive attitude. In terms of practice frequency, 20.4% of students reported rarely performing the NP, while 59.3% reported practicing it often or very often. Gender, academic year, learning methods, learning tools, clinical specialty, and subjects were factors associated with nursing students’ competency in practicing the NP. The average score of students’ clinical decision-making (CDM) competency was 3.13±0.77. The competency in practicing the NP— including knowledge, attitude, and practice — was found to be associated with students’ clinical decision-making ability.