Abstract: Objective: To investigate current status and potential subgroups of nursing competence of newly graduated nurses, and analyze features and influencing factors of different subgroups to provide a reference for formulating targeted and specific strategies for newly graduated nurses' competence improvement. Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted in September, 2020 including 1017 newly graduated nurses from 13 tertiary hospitals in Shanghai. The subgroup model was established based on latent profile analysis, One-way ANOVA and ordinal logistic regression analysis were carried out to assess the differences in subgroup characteristics and the related factors. Results: Results of latent profile analysis revealed that the nursing competence of newly graduated nurses could be divided into three subgroups, including risky competence (11.11%), medium competence (46.0%) and advanced competence (42.9%). Results of ordinal logistic regression showed that college degree (OR=1.567), fixed preceptors (OR=1.441), higher profession identity (OR=1.053) and organization support (OR=1.020) were protective factors of newly graduated nurses' nursing competence. Conclusion: There are three potential subgroups in nursing competence of newly graduated nurses, and those in different subgroups show differences in population characteristics. Nursing managers should adopt targeted interventions in order to enhance nursing competences of newly graduated nurses.

Key words: new graduated nurses; nursing competence; latent profile analysis; influencing factors