Clinical Standard
Furthermore, formative assessments are conducted during the learning process to provide feedback to improve learning outcomes. Clinical assessments conducted at mid-point during the placement period offer a chance for nurses to receive commentary or feedback on their operations and establish areas for advancement. This type of assessment is particularly important for new graduate nurses still learning and developing their nursing skills (Falconer, 2020). Another benefit of conducting clinical assessments at mid-point during placement is allowing nurses to reflect on their practice. Reflection is an essential aspect of nursing, as it allows nurses to understand their weaknesses and strengths, evaluate their performance, and pinpoint areas for improvement. Through reflection, nurses can grow deeper in understanding their work and practice towards progressive improvement.
Therefore, clinical assessments conducted at mid-point during the placement period are effective because it is important to establish clear assessment criteria and provide specific, constructive, and actionable feedback. According to Everett and Feeney (2019), clear assessment criteria are essential for ensuring that clinical assessments are fair, consistent, and reliable. Assessment criteria should be communicated to nurses based on specific learning objectives and competencies in advance. Feedback is also an essential component of clinical assessments. In this case, feedback should be specific and focused on the nurse’s performance rather than their attributes. Feedback should also be constructive and provide specific suggestions for improvement rather than simply highlighting areas of weakness. In addition, feedback should be actionable, providing the nurse with specific steps to improve their performance. Delivery of feedback is equally important. Everett and Feeney (2019) claim that students deliver feedback in a supportive and non-threatening manner, focusing on building the nurse’s confidence and competence. Feedback should be delivered privately and focus on the nurse’s strengths and areas for improvement. Also, feedback should be delivered promptly, ideally within 24-48 hours of the clinical assessment. Effective clinical assessments require clear criteria, specific and constructive feedback, and supportive delivery. By following these guidelines, nurses can receive feedback that supports their professional development and helps ensure that they provide high-quality patient care. Hire Professional Essay Writers
New graduated nurses posted to the renal dialysis unit require adequate knowledge and skills to provide quality nursing care to hemodialysis patients. According to Falconer (2020), nursing students preparing for clinical placement in the Emergency Department require similar knowledge and skills to provide quality care to patients. Falconer’s research suggests that an online learning resource can effectively support the development of nursing students’ knowledge and skills. Similarly, new graduate nurses posted to the renal dialysis unit could benefit from using online learning resources to support their learning and development. These resources could include e-learning modules, videos, case studies, and quizzes, which can be accessed anytime and anywhere. By providing access to these resources, nurses can develop their knowledge and skills in providing nursing care to patients undergoing hemodialysis, which can help improve patient care quality. In addition to knowledge and skills, clinical assessments are essential in determining the patient’s physical, emotional, and mental health status. Falconer’s research highlights the importance of clinical assessments in nursing, as they allow nurses to develop effective care plans for their patients. Similarly, clinical assessments in the renal dialysis unit are critical in identifying the patient’s health problems and developing an effective care plan. (Order for Homework Help)
Finally, Clinical assessments are crucial in determining the competence of healthcare professionals, particularly in work-established settings. According to Bramley et al. (2021), using standardized assessment tools can enhance the fairness and objectivity of clinical assessments. The authors developed an innovative e-portfolio with embedded (EPAs) to assess clinical competence in nursing students. The EPA-based assessment tool is grounded in authentic clinical scenarios that allow students to demonstrate their clinical competence in real-world situations. The e-portfolio also enables assessors to review student performance remotely, facilitating objectivity and standardization. Training assessors is another critical factor that can improve the fairness and objectivity of clinical assessments. Bramley et al. (2021) note that assessors require adequate training to develop the skills and knowledge to conduct assessments fairly and objectively. Such training should emphasize standardized assessment tools and the importance of objectivity when evaluating student performance. In addition, using multiple assessors can also enhance the fairness and objectivity of clinical assessments by reducing the impact of individual biases on the assessment outcomes. Therefore, standardized assessment tools, adequate assessor training, and multiple assessors are essential for ensuring fair and objective clinical assessments in healthcare education.
Conclusion
In conclusion, clinical instructors and facilitators are crucial to learning during clinical placements. By using evidence-based interventions, providing structured feedback and support to students, and using objective criteria to assess student performance, they can help students to develop their clinical skills, integrate theory to practice, and achieve their learning outcomes. Clinical instructors and facilitators must provide regular feedback to students, both formal and informal, to support their learning and development. Effective feedback should be non-judgmental, specific, and focused on behaviors that can be changed. Feedback should also be given promptly to allow students to make necessary improvements during placement. The assessment process should also be formative, providing students with feedback on their performance and identifying areas where they need to improve. Clinical instructors and facilitators must provide commentary regularly to the educational institution, students, and the clinical placement provider, to enhance the quality of students’ experiences in the facility. Work-based assessment tools in a clinical setting, such as e-portfolios with embedded EPAs, can effectively meet Quality Indicator 5.1 for clinical assessments during nursing education. Ultimately, the responsibility of the clinical instructor and facilitator in conducting clinical assessments and providing constructive feedback to students is critical to the success of clinical placements.
