Evaluation of the practice assessment tool used to assess clinical practice in the pre-qualifying and undergraduate nursing programme

The following paper reports on an evaluation of the practice assessment tool used within the pre-qualifying and undergraduate nursing programme, to assess competence of clinical practice. A qualitative approach was used. Focus groups with nursing students (n-20), mentors who support learning and assess practice (n-20) and nurse lecturers (n-20) was used to collect the data. The key findings suggest that there are many benefits to the structure and function of the current practice assessment tool, but highlight that skill development and progression was not explicit within the assessment tool, students and mentors reported that they felt unprepared to use the tool confidently, strengths and challenges associated with reflection were reported and there were communication problems highlighted in the student-mentor relationship. Recommendations focus on maintaining the positive aspects of the tool; implementing strategies to provide greater preparation for students and mentors to use the tool, refining the student reflective accounts required and incorporating strategies that further promote continuity of learning and assessment in practice.