Evaluation of the Neuroscience Nurse Internship Program: the first decade

This article describes the evaluation of the Neuroscience Nurse Internship Program (NNIP). The NNIP was initiated in 1988 by the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center to meet the demand for highly skilled nurses to care for persons with nervous system disorders. To determine whether the program was meeting its goals, an evaluation component was incorporated into the program. The evaluation process was based on the RSA Model of Continuing Education for nursing. The RSA model consists of four basic components, three of which were included in the assessment of the NNIP--process, content, and outcome. The evaluation revealed that the nurse-interns were satisfied with the lectures and clinical content of the program. Moreover, the nurse-interns improved their knowledge of neuroscience nursing and their confidence in performing neuroscience nursing skills. Information from the evaluation was used to modify the structure of the program and to refine lecture content and clinical requirements.