Purpose: This study was done to provide information on issues of nursing core competencies needed in the fields of nursing practice for graduates in nursing, from the perspective of nursing managers, and to make suggestion for improving nursing education programs. Methods: Ten nursing managers participated in this study. They were in charge of clinical nursing education in the fields of nursing practice. Data were collected using focus group interviews and analyzed with the content analysis methodology of Downe -Wamboldt's. Results: Six types of nursing core competencytherapeutic nursing competency, professional nursing competency, administrative nursing competency, humanistic nursing competency, relational nursing competency, and personal nursing competency -were identified as nursing core competencies needed in the fields of nursing practice for graduates in nursing. Conclusion: Results of the study show important evidence for decision-making about nursing curriculum revision based on nursing core competency, both in the classroom and in nursing practice areas. These results should contribute to the development of evaluation indicators for nursing students or new nurses. Further research is required to measure degree of nursing core competency in graduates of nursing and to identify the effect of competency-based education for improving nursing core competency. 서 론 1. 연구의 필요성 간호교육은 질적인 간호를 제공할 수 있는 전문직 간호사를 양성하는데 일차적인 목표를 두고 있으며 이러한 교육 목표를 달성하기 위해서는 이론적 지식과 이를 근거로 올바르게 수행할 수 있는 기술 및 태도가 필수적이다. 그러나 우리나라 간호실무현장에서 졸업간호사들의 임상수행 능력이 대상자의 요구나, 병원, 보건소 및 산업장 등의 현장요구