title: A survey of physical examination skills taught in undergraduate nursing programs: are we teaching too much?
abstract: Because content saturation is a growing concern, as reflected in the nursing literature, the content taught in undergraduate nursing curricula should be critically examined. The purpose of this descriptive cross-sectional research was to determine and analyze the physical assessment content currently taught in undergraduate nursing programs. A total of 198 individuals teaching in undergraduate nursing programs completed a Web-based survey. Of the 122 skills included on the survey, 81% were reportedly being taught in most of the nursing programs. Total scores for 18 systems-based assessment categories were significantly different among associate and baccalaureate nursing programs in all but three categories: assessment of integument, breast, and female genitals. Previous research has shown that nurses use less than 25% of these same skills regularly in clinical practice, regardless of their educational preparation. Findings from this research raise questions about the breadth to which physical examination content should be taught in undergraduate nursing education.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131-0001, USA. jgiddens@salud.unm.edu
authors.forename: Jean Foret
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Giddens
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Eddy
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003479:Curriculum / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004507:Education, Nursing, Associate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004518:Education, Professional, Retraining / Q000458:organization & administration; D005181:Faculty, Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D020380:Needs Assessment; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000451:nursing*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013663:Teaching / Q000458:organization & administration; D014481:United States