Evaluating Objective Structured Clinical Assessment (OSCA) in undergraduate nursing.
The aims of this mixed methods study were to gain insight into how individual assessors determine an Objective Structured Clinical Assessment (OSCA) result for undergraduate nursing students and identify whether individual assessor perceptions and professional characteristics have an impact on students' results. Results from 25 participants showed that although less than half (44%) of the participants were teaching in the course that they were assessing, the participants were highly experienced clinicians and nearly three-quarters (72%) had completed formal teaching qualifications. There were wide variations in pass rates (16.7-90%) between assessors. The widest disparity was observed between assessors with and those without critical care experience (66% versus 39%), as well as assessors who were teaching the course and those who were not (68% versus 49%). Qualitative analysis revealed three dominant themes within participants' transcripts. The themes focused on determining student safety, and the use of personal perceptions and clinical experience to determine competency. Findings indicate that assessors' individual perceptions and clinical experience have the potential to influence and determine undergraduate nursing students OSCA results. Development of criteria standards and objective assessment may be enhanced by greater involvement of assessors and thorough education and training within the context of student assessments.
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Locked Bag 20000, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia. Electronic address: l.east@deakin.edu.au.
Leah
L
East
School of Nursing & Midwifery, University of Western Sydney, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith South DC, NSW 1797, Australia. Electronic address: k.peters@uws.edu.au.
Kathleen
K
Peters
University of Wollongong, School of Nursing, Midwifery & Indigenous Health, Faculty of Health & Behavioural Sciences, Northfields Ave, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia. Electronic address: ehalcomb@uow.edu.au.
Elizabeth
E
Halcomb
School of Nursing & Midwifery, University of Western Sydney, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia. Electronic address: d.raymond@uws.edu.au.
Debra
D
Raymond
University of Western Sydney, School of Nursing & Midwifery, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia. Electronic address: y.salamonson@uws.edu.au.
Yenna
Y
Salamonson
D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
Assessment; Competence; Nursing practice; Objective Structured Clinical Assessment; Undergraduate nursing