Cultural competence refers to the ability to provide effective, safe, and high-quality care to clients from diverse cultural backgrounds, while considering various aspects of their culture during the delivery of care. This study aimed to determine the level of cultural competence and its relationship with empathy and resilience among third-year nursing students. This descriptive-correlational study included 100 third- and fourth-year nursing students, selected through a census sampling method based on inclusion criteria. The data collection tools included a demographic form, the Cultural Competence Questionnaire, the Jefferson Scale of Empathy, and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, all of which were completed via self-report. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and linear regression were used to analyze the data. No significant correlation was observed between cultural competence and gender, age groups, academic semester, experience of cultural care, and empathy. However, a significant correlation was found between previous cultural diversity training and resilience. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that cultural competence had a significant influence on resilience (p = 0.001, t = accounting for 8% of its variance, but had no significant effect on empathy (p = 0.72, t = 0.35). The findings revealed that cultural competence (β = 0.622, p < 0.001) could predict resilience, but did not affect empathy (β = 0.018, p = 0.72). It is recommended that future research further explore the relationships among these variables. Additionally, nursing administrators and instructors should also incorporate cultural competency models in the undergraduate nursing curriculum to enhance cultural competency in nursing students.