Self-assessment of professional behaviours: a preregistration nurse development initiative

Nurses should develop and maintain self-assessment abilities as this offers opportunities to build awareness of their professional behaviours and supports them to function as a reflective and competent registrant.

One cohort of preregistration adult nurses (n=100) undertook self-assessment of five professional behaviours (timekeeping, communication, professionalism, teamworking and evidence-based practice) on two occasions in 1 year. Lecturing staff (n=4) then assessed the students and provided feedback. The results of student and staff assessments were compared and shared with students electronically. Surveys were used to evaluate the experience of self-assessment and the results were thematically analysed.

Staff and students found self-assessment useful for building professional behaviours, with student and lecturer assessment scores becoming more congruent over time.

Self-assessment builds self-awareness, which in turn promotes recognition and understanding of professional behaviours and provides crucial direction for future preregistration education. Self-assessment should be included in curricula to support the development of competent registrants.