The relationship between moral intelligence and clinical competence in nursing students in Khuzestan province, 2019

 Clinical education plays an important role in achieving clinical competence of nursing students. One of the parameters of the clinical environment that seems to help in achieving the goals of internships is moral intelligence. The current research aims to determine the relationship between moral intelligence and clinical competence in nursing students in Khuzestan province 2019.

 This practical study was conducted in 2019 with the participation of nursing students in Khuzestan province. The method of data collection and analysis is descriptive and correlational. The sample size was estimated to be 321 people based on Morgan's table, which by removing distorted information. The number of 299 people was calculated. The sampling method is random-stratified and the data collection tool is the moral intelligence standard questionnaire and the nursing clinical competence questionnaire in the clinical period. Data were analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient.

 The findings showed that students have an average status in terms of honesty, responsibility, forgiveness and compassion. Also, there is a positive and significant relationship between moral intelligence and clinical competence (P<0.001, r=0.602). All dimensions of moral intelligence had a positive and significant relationship with clinical competence (P<0.001).

 Due to the fact that moral intelligence is acquired and related to clinical competence, trainings that lead to the growth of students' moral intelligence can increase clinical competence and ultimately raise the academic level of the university.
Keywords: moral intelligence, clinical competency, nursing, student.