title: Employer perceptions of knowledge, competency, and professionalism of baccalaureate nursing graduates from a problem-based program.
abstract: Employer evaluation of graduates is a critical component of professional program evaluation and contributes a viewpoint rarely reported in the literature. It has been proposed that Problem-Based Learning (PBL) enhances knowledge acquisition, clinical competency and professional behavior. Students assume the role of a registered nurse as they work through real practice scenarios on a daily basis in the classroom. The purpose of this study was to explore employer perceptions of graduates' knowledge, competency and professionalism, following completion of a PBL program. Nurse employers (N=53) participated in 10 focus group discussions. Four main themes were derived from employer descriptions of their experience with PBL graduates: still rough around the edges, we want them to succeed, a new generation of practitioner, and potential to lead the profession into the future. Please add what the implications of these findings are to nursing education.
authors: University of Alberta. beverly.williams@ualberta.ca
authors: Bev
authors: B
authors: Williams
authors: Rene A
authors: RA
authors: Day
mesh_terms: D000416:Alberta; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003479:Curriculum / Q000592:standards; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000592:standards*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D004650:Employee Performance Appraisal; D004651:Employment; D030141:Feedback, Psychological; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D009718:Nurse Administrators / Q000523:psychology*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D018794:Problem-Based Learning / Q000592:standards*; D011361:Professional Competence / Q000592:standards*