This study was conducted to investigate factors contributing to clinical competence for nurses. A descriptive correlational study design was used. Participants were 163 nurses from a general hospital. Data were collected using self-administerd questionnaire. There were significant differences in clinical competence according to scholarship, department type, preceptor experience, future plan, continuing education participation. The clinical competence had significant correlations with the clinical experience, critical thinking disposition and clinical decision making. Factors influencing clinical competence were critical thinking disposition, department type, and clinical experience, which explained about 50.3% of total variance. we suggest that continuing education program to enhance critical thinking disposition warranted for development of clinical competence for nurses.