Essential qualifications for nursing students

Course objectives do not always support grading or evaluation decisions when a student demonstrates poor judgment or disrespectful interactions with others in clinical settings, classrooms, and program-related activities. Instructor attempts to help a student identify, reflect upon, and correct an inappropriate behavior are often awkward, avoided altogether, or lack an articulated set of standards to which both student and instructor can refer. Yet qualifications such as sound judgment and sensitive communication skills are essential in the provision of quality nursing care. The Essential Qualifications documents at the University of Washington School of Nursing offer a structure within which students, instructors, and administrators can identify, assess, and document action plans for student success. This article describes the legal basis and process for the formulation and use of an educational tool for assessing and guiding, outside the realm of course objectives, essential qualifications in applicants and students of nursing programs.