title: Evaluating the effectiveness of a clinical tracking system for undergraduate nursing students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated one commercially available clinical tracking system to determine its appropriateness for use within a school of nursing.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Collecting documentation during undergraduate clinical experiences (e.g., type of patient care experience, diagnosis, skills completed, competencies met) is a challenging undertaking for students and faculty. Little research has been conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of clinical tracking systems.
  
  
  METHODS
  A convenience sample of students and faculty completed an end-of-course survey that measured their satisfaction with the clinical tracking system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistically significant (p < .05) differences were found between students and faculty in several areas: utility, technical issues, capacity to identify regulatory body achieved competencies, and usefulness of records generated.There was also a statistically significant (p < .01) difference in overall satisfaction, with faculty much more satisfied with the system than students.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The clinical tracking system was found by faculty and students to be user friendly. Faculty overall were more satisfied with the system than students.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Community Studies, Mount Royal University, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. vsalyers@mountroyal.ca
authors.forename: Vincent L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Salyers
authors.forename: Lorraine
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.forename: Clara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Antoniazzi
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D003162:Competency-Based Education / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards*; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D013338:Students, Nursing