title: Performance evaluation of nursing students following competency-based education.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Competency-based education is known to improve the match between educational performance and employment opportunities.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study examined the effects of competency-based education on the learning outcomes of undergraduate nursing students.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study used a quasi-experimental design.
  
  
  METHODS
  A convenience sample of 312 second-year undergraduate nursing students from northern and southern Taiwan participated in the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The experimental group (n=163) received competency-based education and the control group received traditional instruction (n=149) in a medical-surgical nursing course. Outcome measures included students' scores on the Objective Structured Clinical Examination, Self-Evaluated Core Competencies Scale, Metacognitive Inventory for Nursing Students questionnaire, and academic performance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Students who received competency-based education had significantly higher academic performance in the medical-surgical nursing course and practicum than did the control group. Required core competencies and metacognitive abilities improved significantly in the competency-based education group as compared to the control group after adjusting for covariates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Competency-based education is worth implementing and may close the gap between education and the ever-changing work environment.
authors: Department of Nursing & Graduate Institute of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, 261, Wen-Hua 1st Road, Kwei-Shan, Tao-Yuan 333-03, Taiwan. Electronic address: jyfan@gw.cgust.edu.tw.
authors: Jun-Yu
authors: JY
authors: Fan
authors: Department of Nursing & Graduate Institute of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, 261, Wen-Hua 1st Road, Kwei-Shan, Tao-Yuan 333-03, Taiwan. Electronic address: yhwang@gw.cgust.edu.tw.
authors: Yu Hsin
authors: YH
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Nursing & Graduate Institute of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, 261, Wen-Hua 1st Road, Kwei-Shan, Tao-Yuan 333-03, Taiwan. Electronic address: lfchao@gw.cgust.edu.tw.
authors: Li Fen
authors: LF
authors: Chao
authors: Department of Nursing & Graduate Institute of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, 261, Wen-Hua 1st Road, Kwei-Shan, Tao-Yuan 333-03, Taiwan. Electronic address: swjane@gw.cgust.edu.tw.
authors: Sui-Whi
authors: SW
authors: Jane
authors: Graduate Institute of Health Allied Education, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, No. 365, Mingde Rd., Beitou District, Taipei City 112, Taiwan. Electronic address: llhsu@ntunhs.edu.tw.
authors: Li-Ling
authors: LL
authors: Hsu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D003162:Competency-Based Education / Q000379:methods*; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013338:Students, Nursing; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Competency-based education; Core competency; Metacognitive; Objective Structured Clinical Examination