Background Social adjustment is one of the most important signs of students' mental health and enables them to adapt to university life, improve their academic motivation, and maintain their physical and mental health. Clinical competence and recognition of its related factors, as one of the leading indicators of determining nursing performance, are essential for maintaining standards of nursing care. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of social adjustment training on academic success and clinical competence in nursing students.
Methods This quasi-experimental, pre-test and post-test study was conducted on senior nursing students at the Islamic Azad University of Urmia in the academic year 2023-2024. The sample consisted of 40 students selected through Census sampling. Data was collected using demographic questionnaires, the Wells Academic Achievement Questionnaire, and Ebadi Clinical Competency Assessment Questionnaire. The nursing students received social adjustment training in six 60-minute group sessions, twice a week. At the end of the training, they completed the questionnaires again. For statistical analysis, SPSS version 23 was used, and descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and the paired t-test were employed.
Results The results showed no significant difference in the average overall academic success scores of nursing students before and after the intervention (p > 0.05, t = 0.015). However, there was a statistically significant difference in the mean overall clinical competence scores of students before and after the intervention (p < 0.05).
Conclusion The social adjustment training program did not significantly affect academic achievement but improved clinical competence among nursing students. Therefore, educational programs aimed at improving the social adjustment of nursing students, such as specialized workshops, simulated scenarios, and role-playing techniques, can comprehensively contribute to the development of their clinical competency. This will enable students to enter the workforce with greater confidence and skill, thereby providing high-quality healthcare services.