TY - JOUR
T1 - Exploring the formal assessment discussions in clinical nursing education
T2 - An observational study
AU - Aase, Ingunn
AU - Akerjordet, Kristin
AU - Crookes, Patrick
AU - Frøiland, Christina T.
AU - Laugaland, Kristin A.
N1 - Funding Information:
This work is supported by The Research Council of Norway (RCN) grant number 273558. The funder had no role in the design of the project, data collection, analysis, interpretation of data or in writing and publication of the manuscript.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022, The Author(s).
PY - 2022/12
Y1 - 2022/12
N2 - Introduction: According to EU standards, 50% of the bachelor education program in nursing should take place in clinical learning environments. Consequently, this calls for high quality supervision, where appropriate assessment strategies are vital to optimize students’ learning, growth, and professional development. Despite this, little is known about the formal assessment discussions taking place in clinical nursing education. Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the characteristics of the formal assessment discussions taking place during first-year students’ clinical education in nursing homes. Method: An exploratory qualitative study was performed. The data consist of passive participant observations of 24 assessment discussions (12 mid-term and 12 final assessments) with first-year nursing students (n=12), their assigned registered nurse mentors (n=12) and nurse educators (n=5). The study was conducted in three public nursing homes in a single Norwegian municipality. Data were subjected to thematic analysis. The findings were reported using the Standards for Reporting of Qualitative Research. Results: Three themes were identified regarding the characteristics of the formal assessment discussions: (1) adverse variability in structuring, weighting of theoretical content and pedagogical approach; (2) limited three-part dialogue constrains feedback and reflection; and (3) restricted grounds for assessment leave the nurse educators with a dominant role. Conclusion: These characteristic signal key areas of attention to improve formal assessment discussions to capitalize on unexploited learning opportunities.
AB - Introduction: According to EU standards, 50% of the bachelor education program in nursing should take place in clinical learning environments. Consequently, this calls for high quality supervision, where appropriate assessment strategies are vital to optimize students’ learning, growth, and professional development. Despite this, little is known about the formal assessment discussions taking place in clinical nursing education. Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the characteristics of the formal assessment discussions taking place during first-year students’ clinical education in nursing homes. Method: An exploratory qualitative study was performed. The data consist of passive participant observations of 24 assessment discussions (12 mid-term and 12 final assessments) with first-year nursing students (n=12), their assigned registered nurse mentors (n=12) and nurse educators (n=5). The study was conducted in three public nursing homes in a single Norwegian municipality. Data were subjected to thematic analysis. The findings were reported using the Standards for Reporting of Qualitative Research. Results: Three themes were identified regarding the characteristics of the formal assessment discussions: (1) adverse variability in structuring, weighting of theoretical content and pedagogical approach; (2) limited three-part dialogue constrains feedback and reflection; and (3) restricted grounds for assessment leave the nurse educators with a dominant role. Conclusion: These characteristic signal key areas of attention to improve formal assessment discussions to capitalize on unexploited learning opportunities.
KW - Clinical assessment discussions
KW - Clinical education
KW - Clinical placements in nursing homes
KW - First-year nursing student
KW - Observational study
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85132130957&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1186/s12912-022-00934-x
DO - 10.1186/s12912-022-00934-x
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85132130957
SN - 1472-6955
VL - 21
SP - 1
EP - 10
JO - BMC Nursing
JF - BMC Nursing
IS - 1
M1 - 155
ER -