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Updated: Jul 17, 2025

Problem-Solving Before Instruction PS-I: A Protocol for Assessment and Intervention in Students with Different Abilities
Published on: September 11, 2021
Practice to Perform: Formative Mini-Skills Checkoffs Prior to High-Stakes Summative Assessment for Practice-Ready
1Author Affiliations: Assistant Professor (Dr Kuehn) and Adjunct Professor (Dr Zehrung), School of Nursing, University of South Carolina-Beaufort, Bluffton.
Background:
In previous years, students expressed their concerns regarding the high-stress nature of the summative skills checkoff, and pass rates were not as high as expected.
Purpose:
To evaluate the impact of mini-skills checkoff assessments and the use of standardized patients (SPs) on summative skills pass rates and nursing students' perceptions of this teaching approach.
Methods:
A mixed-methods approach was used with a convenience sample of 46 sophomore nursing students.
Results:
There was a significant difference in the summative skills checkoff pass rates after including mini-skills checkoffs and SPs ( P < .01). Four dominant themes emerged: emotional impact, preparation and learning, confidence and competence, and readiness.
Conclusions:
Evidence from this pilot study suggests the inclusion of continuous, low-stakes assessments over time, with learner feedback bridges the gap between clinical practice, simulation, and classroom learning.
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