Revolutionizing assessment in a clinical skills environment--a global approach: the recorded assessment

Assessment is an essential component of education and a key element of the student experience. This is never more apparent than in the assessment of student nurses competency in practice skills. The use of clinical skills centres to facilitate the acquisition of nursing skills continues to gain popularity, nonetheless the methods used to develop and assess competency within these environments remains diverse with contemporary literature suggesting that the objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) is predominantly used. This paper presents an innovative approach used within a skills environment to summatively assess nursing students at the end of their first year; one that seeks to cultivate clinical competency through a process of self-appraisal and appreciation of evidence-based literature. The recorded assessment is a unique strategy that endeavours to make the learning experience more meaningful for the students, through the use of an audio-visual tool and written critique. The critique is crucial to the learning process by encouraging the student to adopt a critical and holistic view of their practice; essential skills for future practitioners.