Taiwan nursing student assessment of the value of a competence-based medical-surgical clinical performance Examination Model

Background: Assessment of nursing student abilities with regard to competent nursing practice has played an important role in the clinical nursing education revolution. Purpose: This study was designed to evaluate the value to Taiwanese BSN graduates of a competence-based clinical performance examination model for medical-surgical nursing. Methods: Four semi-structured questions were used to explore the learning experience of 30 nursing students through their performance on a medical-surgical nursing clinical performance examination (CPE). Qualitative content analysis was used to identify categories. Results: Differences found between the CPE and traditional clinical practicum included learning situation, learning process decision making procedures, and result evaluation procedures. Advantages of the CPE included confidence in self-competence, enhanced stimulation in clinical settings, self-directed learning, revised learning, and flexible learning. Disadvantages included poorer control over the overall learning process and less control of outcomes. Benefits to subjects from participating in the CPE included increased awareness, acceptance, and cultivation of self competence. A number of students expressed they perceived no specific benefits attributable to the CPE. Conclusion: Study findings are hoped to contribute to the development of the CPE in medical-surgical nursing in Taiwan.