Purpose: This study was done to explore clinical competence and factors related to competence in nursing students. Methods: Data were collected using structured questionnaires from 210 students in three different schools located in D, B and P metropolitan cities, Korea. Data were using PASW (SPSS) 18.0 program, and included t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlations coefficients, and multiple regression analyses. Results: There were positive correlations between clinical competence and ego-resilience (r=.40. p<.001), critical thinking dispositions (r=.58, p<.001), and self-leadership (r=.14, p=.043). Variables such as critical thinking dispositions, ego-resilience, satisfaction with clinical practice education, health status and academic performance explained 48% of variance in clinical competence. Conclusion: According to the above results, a specific education program for clinical competence of student nurses is needed to increase critical thinking dispositions, ego-resilience, satisfaction with clinical practice education, health status and academic performance.