PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify a relationship between the communication competence and social anxiety in nursing students. METHODS: With a cross-sectional survey, a convenience sampling of 303 nursing students was taken from P-university in Y-city. The instrument for the study was a questionnaire that is consisted of the general characteristics, an Interaction Anxiousness Scale (IAS) and a Global Interpersonal Communication Competence Scale (GICC). Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis, Pearson's correlation coefficients and stepwise multiple regression with SPSS version 21.0. RESULTS: The mean score of the IAS was 41.89+/-8.74 and the GICC was 3.51+/-0.34. Communication competence significantly differed by the satisfaction of major (F=10.86, p<.001). In addition, the satisfaction of interpersonal relationships was significantly different in both communication competence (F=17.52, p<.001) and social anxiety (F=23.85, p<.001). Social anxiety had a negative correlation with communication competence (r=-.48, p<.001). Social anxiety accounted for 55.3% of the variance-social relaxation (beta=-.62), assertiveness (beta=-.18), interaction management (beta =.14) and efficiency (beta=-.13)- of communication competence's subcategories. CONCLUSION: It was found that communication competence has an influence on social anxiety. Therefore, education programs are needed to promote communication competence for a decline of social anxiety in nursing students.