Nursing Interns’ Readiness for Clinical Practice: A Cross-Sectional Analytical Study in Multan, Pakistan

Background Nursing interns are recent nursing graduates who, for a year, are rotated in different clinical settings to gain hands-on experience and clinical skills before officially becoming registered nurses. As the healthcare system in Pakistan faces a growing demand for a competent workforce, it is necessary to assess nursing interns’ level of readiness for clinical practice. Objective This study aimed to assess the level of readiness for clinical practice among nursing interns and to examine associations between demographic factors and readiness levels. Methods An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in two private nursing colleges in Multan, Pakistan. Using a universal sampling technique, 114 nursing interns were recruited. Data were collected using the Nursing Practice Readiness Scale (NPRS), a validated self-report tool comprising five domains: clinical judgment and nursing performance, professional attitudes, patient-centeredness, self-regulation, and collaborative interpersonal relationships. Content validity of the instrument was established prior to data collection (Content Validity Index: relevance = 0.92; clarity = 0.87). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22. Descriptive statistics summarized readiness levels, while inferential statistics examined associations between readiness and demographic variables. Results Most participants were female (71.9%) and aged 24–26 years (60.5%). Overall, 66.7% of nursing interns demonstrated a high level of readiness, while 33.3% showed a moderate level of readiness; none were classified as having low readiness. Domain-specific analysis indicated high readiness in collaborative interpersonal relationships (78.1%), patient-centeredness (76.3%), self-regulation (66.7%), clinical judgment and nursing performance (53.5%), and professional attitudes (43.9%). Low readiness levels were observed in interpersonal relationships and professional attitudes (2.6%), and in patient-centeredness and professional attitudes (1.8%). Statistically significant associations were found between readiness levels and duration of clinical posting (p = 0.010) as well as exposure to paediatric wards (p = 0.036). Conclusion Nursing interns demonstrated an overall high level of readiness for clinical practice, suggesting adequate preparation for professional roles. However, gaps in specific domains, particularly professional attitudes, indicate the need for targeted educational and clinical support. These findings may help nursing institutions strengthen internship programs and focus on areas requiring improvement.