title: Learning a complex nursing skill: student anxiety and the effect of preclinical skill evaluation.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to identify the anxiety profile of undergraduate nursing students when learning a complex psychomotor skill, and to determine the effect of preclinical skill evaluation on student anxiety and performance when applying the skill in a patient situation. Findings support preclinical skill evaluation as an effective strategy for reducing anxiety related to initial transfer of skill learning from a laboratory to a clinical setting and enhancing self-confidence.
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio School of Nursing 78284-7948.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Bell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014743:Videotape Recording