The application of performance indicators to nurse education (Part 1)

The aim of this paper is to examine the application of Performance Indicators (PIs) to nurse education in terms of a literature review. In order to achieve this aim key theoretical concepts related to PIs are examined in terms of management literature in nurse education, general and higher education. Although the ideas related to PIs of staff, teaching methods and learning environment are well developed in nurse education, the notions of student reports, student reviews and student perceptions as indicators are not widely applied to the evaluation of Schools/Colleges of Nursing. Furthermore, there is hardly any evidence of the application of the following indicators to nurse education: unit costs, student/staff ratio (SSRs), wastage and completion rates and value-added scores. Until concepts are developed into PIs in nurse education, Schools/Colleges of Nursing have not been evaluated for their effectiveness.