Innovations in performance assessment: a criterion based performance assessment for advanced practice nurses using a...

Health care organizations that employ advanced practice nurses are challenged to evaluate practice at this advanced level. Current evaluation methods tend to inter-mingle basic nursing competencies with competencies found in medical practice and organizational objectives that are typically derived from human resources departments. This article describes the development of a criterion-based job performance assessment for advanced nursing practice using a framework rooted in a nursing theory.

A needs analysis; review of the literature, adaptation of nursing's Synergy Model, and input from various stakeholders guided the development of a generic job description. This job description progressed into a criterion-based performance assessment. Construct validity was tested using a questionnaire administered to a convenience sample of 9 practicing advanced practice nurses, 2 nurse executives, 1 PhD nurse educator, and 1 physician.

Autonomy, job satisfaction, and quality improvement for advanced practice nurses are fostered by a review process that defines roles and competencies specific to advanced nursing practice. Peer review, a concept contributing to this process is explored as a means to monitor and improve practice.