Development and Testing of an Objective Structured Clinical Examination for Evaluating Nurses in Infusion Therapy

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Clinical Skills Assessment
• Infusion Therapy

Background:

• Infusion therapy is a critical nursing skill requiring precise management.
• Evaluating nurses' competency in infusion therapy is essential for patient safety.
• Existing assessment methods may not fully capture the complexities of infusion therapy management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop, assess, and test an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) for evaluating nurses' infusion therapy skills.
• To ensure the OSCE is evidence-based and reflects current practice standards.
• To validate the OSCE's reliability and effectiveness through expert and user testing.

Main Methods:

• Methodological approach with a quantitative design.
• Development of clinical scenarios and assessment checklists based on evidence-based models.
• Expert consensus evaluation and testing with the target nursing audience.
• Data analysis using the Modified Kappa coefficient to assess inter-rater reliability.

Main Results:

• The OSCE comprised 8 clinical stations aligned with the Vessel Health and Preservation model and Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice.
• All evaluated items achieved a Modified Kappa coefficient value of ≥0.74 during expert assessment and examination testing.
• Positive outcomes were reported during testing with nurses, indicating effectiveness.

Conclusions:

• An evidence-based OSCE for infusion therapy competency was successfully developed and validated.
• The OSCE demonstrated strong expert consensus and positive outcomes in practical application.
• The developed OSCE is an effective educational tool for assessing and improving nurses' infusion therapy skills.