Purpose: This study investigated the impact of professional self-concept on mental health nursing competency among psychiatric nurses. It also explored whether communication competence and job satisfaction moderate this relationship. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered to 155 psychiatric nurses in South Korea. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, and the PROCESS macro (Model 1). Results: Professional self-concept, communication competence, and job satisfaction all demonstrated significant positive correlations with mental health nursing competency. Regression analysis indicated that these variables were significant predictors of mental health nursing competency, accounting for 81.0% of the total variance. Job satisfaction significantly moderated the relationship between professional self-concept and mental health nursing competency (p=.010), with professional self-concept having a stronger effect when job satisfaction was low. However, communication competence did not show a significant moderating effect. Conclusion: To improve mental health nursing competency, it is vital to strengthen nurses’ professional self-concept. Professional self-concept had a stronger effect on mental health nursing competency when job satisfaction was low, suggesting that educational interventions designed to enhance professional identity may be particularly beneficial for nurses experiencing lower job satisfaction. Although organizational support remains important, intervention strategies should be tailored according to nurses’ levels of job satisfaction.

https://doi.org/10.12934/jkpmhn.2026.35.2.207