Teaching and Evaluating Health Assessment Competencies in Entry-Level and Advanced-Level Nursing Programs.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Health Assessment
• Competency-Based Education

Background:

• The transition to competency-based education (CBE) necessitates evaluating physical health assessment teaching and evaluation methods in nursing.
• This is crucial for both entry-level and advanced nursing programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine current practices in teaching and evaluating physical health assessment competencies within nursing education.
• To identify challenges and gaps in implementing competency-based education (CBE) for physical assessment.

Main Methods:

• A national survey utilizing backward design principles was conducted.
• Data collected focused on physical assessment competency behaviors, assessment strategies, and teaching/learning approaches.

Main Results:

• Surveys from 54 entry-level and 27 advanced-level programs were analyzed using descriptive statistics.
• Key findings include a lack of standardized assessment tools, limited focus on specific populations, barriers to inclusive assessments, and time constraints.

Conclusions:

• While some CBE elements are integrated, significant gaps hinder successful implementation in physical assessment courses.
• Addressing these gaps is essential for preparing competent, practice-ready nursing graduates.