Differences in Psychomotor Skills Teaching and Evaluation Practices in Undergraduate Nursing Programs

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Psychomotor Skill Development

Background:

• Psychomotor skills are crucial for registered nurses, yet teaching and evaluation methods lack standardization.
• Existing literature does not endorse specific strategies for psychomotor skill acquisition or assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how nursing faculty teach and evaluate psychomotor skills in associate and baccalaureate programs.
• To identify resources available for student mastery of these skills.
• To examine policies and procedures for summative psychomotor skill evaluation.

Main Methods:

• A quantitative descriptive study design was employed.
• Participants completed a 28-item questionnaire developed from literature review and expert experience.

Main Results:

• All participating institutions conduct summative assessments of psychomotor skills.
• Significant variation exists in the methods used for teaching and evaluating these skills.

Conclusions:

• The study highlights a need for standardized, evidence-based approaches to psychomotor skill education.
• Further research, including controlled studies and professional consensus guidelines, is recommended to improve consistency and effectiveness.