Journal Article

Assessment of undergraduate nursing students from an Irish perspective: Decisions and dilemmas?

Chesser-Smyth, Patricia, Kennedy, Sara

2017

Overview

Assessment of clinical competence plays a pivotal role in the education of undergraduate nursing students in preparation for registration. The challenges that face preceptors are represented in the international literature yet few studies have focused on the factors that influence the decision-making process by preceptors when students under-perform or appear to be borderline status in relation to clinical practice. This study explored the lived experiences of the preceptors during the assessment process using a phenomenological approach. This was a qualitative study that utilised a phenomenological approach to explore the lived experiences of the preceptors in relation to student assessment of those students who were incompetent and underperformed in clinical practice. Three categories emerged from the findings: First impressions, Emotional turmoil of failing a clinical assessment and competing demands in the workplace. It is proposed that employing a tripartite approach would enhance the assessment process to ensure a more robust and decision-sharing mechanism. This would support decisions that are made in the cases of incompetent or borderline nursing students and increase the objectivity of the competency assessment to ameliorate the emotional turmoil that is experienced by preceptors. •Many emotional, difficulties exist for preceptors in the assessment of competence processes.•Innovative, supportive and collaborative mechanisms are recommended to incorporate a tri-partite approach to enhance the accountability and responsibility the decision-making processes.•A review of the preceptorship education programme to enhance confidence and competence among preceptors in the assessment process.

• Publisher: Elsevier Ltd,Elsevier Limited
• Subject: Academic failure / Attitude of Health Personnel / Clinical assessment / Clinical competence / Clinical Competence - standards / Clinical decision making / Clinical medicine / Clinical nursing / Clinical skills / College students / Competence / Data Analysis / Decision making / Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Educational evaluation / Emotions / Evaluation / Humans / Impressions / Interviews as Topic / Ireland / Learning / Medical decision making / Medical education / Mentors / Nurses / Nursing / Nursing education / Nursing Students / Objectivity / Phenomenology / Preceptors / Preceptors and clinical assessment / Preceptorship - standards / Qualitative Research / Registration / Students / Students, Nursing - psychology / Teaching / Undergraduate Students / Workplaces