E-learning and nursing assessment skills and knowledge - An integrative review

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Digital Learning Technologies
• Healthcare Simulation

Background:

• A knowledge gap exists regarding the effectiveness of e-learning on nursing assessment skills.
• Comprehensive assessment skills are crucial for newly qualified nurses.
• Existing reviews cover digital learning perceptions but not its impact on assessment competency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review evidence on digital technologies' effectiveness in enhancing nursing students' assessment skills and knowledge.
• To identify themes in e-learning and nursing assessment literature.

Main Methods:

• Integrative review of literature from 2006-2016.
• Searched MEDLINE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and ProQuest databases.
• Included hand searching of bibliographies.

Main Results:

• Twenty articles met selection criteria.
• Five themes emerged: self-evaluation, blended/scaffolded learning, clinical reasoning measurement, mobile/social media effectiveness, and training importance.
• E-learning alone did not outperform face-to-face patient simulation.

Conclusions:

• E-based learning offers flexibility but is less effective than simulation alone for nursing assessment.
• Scaffolding is vital for effective e-learning in nursing assessment.
• A blended approach combining e-learning and traditional methods yields superior learning outcomes.