Background: Assessing self-directed learning (SDL) readiness and personality traits among 
nursing students can help in identifying some educational and psychological factors that can 
be considered to create a positive psychological learning atmosphere in nursing education.
Objective: assess self-directed learning readiness level and personality traits among nursing 
students. Setting: All academic departments at the Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University. 
Subjects: comprised of 350 nursing students selected randomly in the first semesters of the 
academic year 2020-2021. Tools: Two tools were used to collect data 1- Self Rating Scale of 
Self-Directed Learning to assess the level of nursing students' self-directed learning readiness. 
2- Big Five Personality Inventory to assess nursing students' personality traits. Results: The 
majority of nursing students (86.0%) have a high level of self-directed learning readiness while 
the rest (14%) of them have a moderate level. Furthermore, they have a higher mean score of
agreeableness and conscientiousness personality traits and followed by openness, extraversion,
and finally neuroticism. Also, it was observed that neuroticism of them has a significant 
negative correlation with total self-directed learning. Awareness and interpersonal skills 
aspects of SDL were positively correlated with openness and extraversion personality traits 
respectively. Conclusion: Self-directed learning (SDL) cannot be assessed without considering 
personality traits among nursing students. Thus personality traits assessment is considered the 
cornerstone of SDL among nursing students that affect their learning preferences or desires for 
accepting responsibility for their learning process. Recommendation: Educational workshops
should be conducted for all nursing educators about the assessment of students' SDL readiness 
and personality traits.