Level of competence of nursing students in the care of hospitalized pediatric clients

The study utilized quantitative, non-experimental, descriptive type of research design. This study covered the self-evaluation of the competence level of the nursing students and was conducted in De La Salle Health Sciences Institute during the first semester of academic year 2015-2016. The study involved 102 respondents enrolled in their third and fourth year of nursing. Respondents were identified using non-probability sampling. The researchers utilized a self-made questionnaire and data was analysed using mean, standard deviation, t-test, and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The study concluded the following: (1) majority of the respondents were 18-21 years old, female, have high family income, ambiverts and assigned in the pediatric ward for 10-15 days; (2) the nursing students batch 2016 and batch 2017 of De La Salle Health Sciences Institute perceived to a very great extent their level of competence in handling hospitalized pediatric clients; (3) the perception on the level of competence of nursing students in the care of hospitalized pediatric clients were the same regardless of age, gender, year level, socio-economic status, personality type and number of days assigned in the pediatric ward