"Evaluation of Objective Structured Clinical Examination in Nursing Education: Feedback from Faculty Staff and Students"

Abstract

Introduction: Tools to accurately assess clinical skills are required to ensure nursing students meet minimum standards and to ensure nursing graduates can safely undertake their professional roles. Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) are frequently used to undertake such assessment.Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the OSCE from the viewpoint of key stakeholders; including nursing faculty staff and students.Methods: This study used a cross sectional quantitative descriptive (survey) design. It was conducted on a convenience sample composed of two groups. Group One included a sample of 55 undergraduate nursing students and Group Two included 12 nursing faculty staff from Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. It applied two previously validated surveys. Results:The findings showed nursing students had a positive attitude towards the OSCE and evaluated its existence in the nursing curriculum as useful. Faculty staff also had a positive attitude towards the inclusion of this exam in the curriculum and emphasized its importance and necessity. Staff, however, emphasized the necessity of careful implementation of this exam and associated preparation of students for this mode of assessment. Conclusion:This study supports the use of OSCE as a method of competence assessment of undergraduate nursing students that meets the needs of key stakeholders including faculty staff and students.