Objective: To analyze the association between perceived barriers and the application of the nursing process in patient care among nursing students at Thang Long University.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 232 nursing students enrolled in either the master's nursing program or the bridge program from college to bachelor's degree at Thang Long University from August 2024 to August 2025. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire assessing nursing process application and related barriers. Descriptive statistics and Pearson's correlation analysis were performed, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05.
Results: The mean nursing process application score was 4.25 ± 0.65 out of 5. The mean overall barrier score was 2.93 ± 0.48 out of 4, with work-related barriers having the highest mean score (3.17 ± 0.57). Nursing process application was weakly and negatively correlated with the overall barrier score and all barrier domains (r = -0.160 to -0.251; p < 0.05). The correlation coefficient between nursing process application and the overall barrier score was -0.251 (p < 0.001).
Conclusion: Nursing students reported a relatively high level of nursing process application. Barriers related to experience, work, resources, and management were negatively associated with nursing process application. Further studies using multivariable analyses and appropriate study designs are needed to clarify the role of each barrier domain.