Aim: To describe graduating nursing students’ competence based on their knowledge in the nursing of a patient with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and their self-assessed nurse competence.

Design: A cross-sectional survey.

Methods: The data were collected in 2018-2019 using an ACS test developed for this study and the Nurse Competence Scale. The sample contained 47 graduating nursing students. The statistical analysis methods were used.

Results: Only 48.9% (n=23) of the students scored an accepted level of knowledge in the nursing of a patient with ACS, and a little over half (51.1%; n=24) failed the ACS test. Graduating nursing students’ self-assessed nurse competence was on a good level (69.7, VAS 0–100). No statistically significant differences in nurse competence assessments occurred between students who passed the ACS test and those who failed it.

Conclusions: Graduating nursing students have a good level of nurse competence, while their knowledge in the nursing of a patient with ACS was poor. It is important to emphasize the nursing of a patient with ACS in nursing education and to pay especially attention to the interpretation of the patient's electrocardiogram findings.