Methods of evaluating an accelerated associate degree registered nurse to baccalaureate degree continuation program

Program evaluation guides curricular decision making and change. This article describes a comprehensive program evaluation of an accelerated associate degree to baccalaureate continuation program and includes some findings and lessons learned. Educators need to be responsible and accountable for the curricular changes that they make and assure that rigor is maintained and essentials are met. The use of comprehensive program evaluation adds significant value and richness of data because use of multiple study methods leads to data from multiple vantage points. Although a comprehensive program evaluation can be time consuming, not all of the methods described in this article may be required. Using the matrix provided, the reader may choose to carry out 1 or 2 of the methods described here.