Clinical structure and evaluation in baccalaureate schools of nursing

A descriptive survey method was used to study clinical structure and evaluation in NLN-accredited baccalaureate degree schools of nursing. A 68% response rate of 198 mailed questionnaires elicited responses from deans, directors, associate deans or curriculum committee chairpersons regarding the schools' clinical structure and evaluation methods. Structure of the clinical courses was almost equally divided; 69 programs had an integrated focus and 60 had a specialty focus. The majority of schools (59%) used the pass-fail method for grading clinical performance and 41% used numerical or letter grades (A-F). Most of the programs used faculty-developed evaluation tools that varied between clinical courses. Study results showed a significant difference at the .001 level in faculty satisfaction. Faculty who graded pass-fail were more satisfied than those who used numerical or letter grades.