The tensions between education and models of nurse preparation

Problems in the supervision and assessment of student nurses: Can clinical placement be improved?

The assessment and supervision of student nurses during clinical placement remains a complex activity. The student needs to be assessed thoroughly to identify his or her strengths and weaknesses. Further, this assessment should be conducted in circumstances which allow the student to be at his or her best. There are many which continue to impact upon clinical supervisors although documented over the last five to ten years. This paper addresses how assessment and student supervision are still influenced by extraneous factors. Its major suggestion is for universities to place a greater emphasis on all aspects of the clinical placement component within nursing courses.

Factors affecting assertiveness among student nurses

This study aimed to investigate the factors affecting assertiveness among student nurses. The study was carried out at Faculty of Nursing, Port-Said University, on 207 student nurses from four different grades. Rathus Assertiveness Schedule, consisted of 30 items, was used to measure the students' assertiveness level and a 12-item scale developed by Spreitzer was used to measure students' psychological empowerment. The study results showed that 60.4% of the students were assertive, while about half of the students were empowered. A positive relation between student assertiveness and psychological empowerment was detected. Moreover, positive relations regarding family income and students' assertiveness and psychological empowerment were determined. The study recommended introduction of specific courses aiming at enhancing the acquisition of assertiveness skills, in addition, nurse educators must motivate their students to express their opinion and personal rights and also they must pay attention for students' empowerment and enhance students' autonomy.

Revolutionizing assessment in a clinical skills environment--a global approach: the recorded assessment

Assessment is an essential component of education and a key element of the student experience. This is never more apparent than in the assessment of student nurses competency in practice skills. The use of clinical skills centres to facilitate the acquisition of nursing skills continues to gain popularity, nonetheless the methods used to develop and assess competency within these environments remains diverse with contemporary literature suggesting that the objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) is predominantly used. This paper presents an innovative approach used within a skills environment to summatively assess nursing students at the end of their first year; one that seeks to cultivate clinical competency through a process of self-appraisal and appreciation of evidence-based literature. The recorded assessment is a unique strategy that endeavours to make the learning experience more meaningful for the students, through the use of an audio-visual tool and written critique. The critique is crucial to the learning process by encouraging the student to adopt a critical and holistic view of their practice; essential skills for future practitioners.

Developing a career pathway within community nursing

There has been much anxiety regarding the levels of competence and confidence of newly qualified nurses. This article will describe the developments within one primary care trust of newly qualified student nurses through to the development of a robust career pathway. Within this PCT previous recruitment into community nursing posts had been unpredictable and some newly qualified nurses had found the transition from pre-registration to qualified nurse within primary care very difficult, often choosing to pursue an alternative career pathway. This resulted in a high turn over of staff. It therefore became imperative that the organization reviewed not only its placement experience but ensured a robust comprehensive career pathway that supported and mapped out for nurses the clinical experience they could expect and support continuing professional development.

Survey comparing clinicians' wound healing knowledge and practice

A cross-sectional design in the form of a self-administered postal questionnaire was sent to 238 staff of a general hospital to compare wound healing knowledge and practice. Seventy-four questionnaires were returned (response rate = 31.09%). No significant statistical differences were identified between the groups. Wound care practices demonstrated a lack of evidence-based care along with the continued use of outdated and hazardous practices. Knowledge was primarily sourced from colleagues and personal experience, with journals and courses favoured by the specialized clinicians. The clinicians rated pre-graduate training as inadequate. Medical staff dominated decision-making in specialized groups, while the responsibility was shared between the nurse and the tissue viability nurse in non-specialized areas. The clinicians identified clinical effectiveness and availability as influencing their dressing choices.

The extent to which students' perceptions of faculties' teaching strategies, students' context, and perceptions of learner empowerment predict perceptions of autonomy in BSN students

This descriptive correlational study examined the extent to which students' perceptions of faculties' teaching strategies, students' context, and perceptions of learner empowerment predicted perceptions of autonomy in senior female generic baccalaureate degree (BSN) students in Northeastern Pennsylvania, USA. Dunkin and Biddle's Model for Classroom Teaching (1974) provided the theoretical framework for this study. The sample of 198 female senior nursing students was drawn from 32 nursing programs accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission [National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) 2002. Directory of accredited programs. Retrieved July 16, 2002 from, http://www.nlnac.org/]. Three separate instruments were used in this study: (1) Learner Empowerment Measure [Frymier, A.B., Shulman, G.M., Houser, M., 1996. The development of a learner empowerment measure. Communication Education, 45, 181-199.]; (2) Autonomy, Caring Perspective [Boughn, S., 1995. An instrument for measuring autonomy related attitudes and behaviors in women nursing students. Journal of Nursing Education, 34, 106-113.] and (3) an investigator designed student demographic data questionnaire. Data were analyzed using stepwise multiple linear regression to estimate path coefficients. Inspection of the findings revealed that there was a significant direct effect (t = 4.299, p < .001) between perceptions of learner empowerment and perceptions of autonomy. Age was also found to have a statistically significant direct effect on perceptions of autonomy (t = 2.652, p = .009). The findings from this study support a link between learner empowerment, stated as a priority in nursing education, and autonomy identified as a priority in practice.

Liberating the potential: the role of non-nurses in adding value to nurse education

In this paper, I have attempted to explore the role of non-nurse lecturers in adding value to nurse education programmes. In measuring "added-value" in higher education, I have embraced a more comprehensive approach including investigating the views of "Experts"; including the nurse and non-nurse lecturers themselves, and various United Kingdom stakeholders such as the Government, the Nursing and Midwifery Council and the Quality Assurance Agency. The students' views are also taken into account, when considering both the content of the programmes and how they are delivered. The complexity of "objective measurement" is considered, and the requirements of a "good" teaching experience. The potential areas for adding value include: health and social care policy priorities which encourage partnership working, the blurring of professional boundaries, and inter-professional working. Professional-specific changes embracing extended and enhanced roles and the concepts of specialist and assistant practitioners. Other areas include the Higher Education agendas including transferable skills and adult and student-centred learning. I conclude by discussing the latest policy changes and suggest that the role of the non-nurse lecturer needs more exploration to provide the best value for all.