Evaluation of clinical performance: Part I

The literature review reveals there is a wide variation of approaches in applying the concepts of evaluation. In this first article, the principles of clinical evaluation have been discussed and subsequently applied to the unique educational situation involved in a nurse anesthesia educational program. The effectiveness of any evaluation program can be determined only after implementation, use for a period of time, and further evaluation as to its effectiveness. The summative evaluation of the evaluation program may assist in identifying areas which need improvement, redesign and reaccomplishment. However, it is evident that an individualized program such as a nurse anesthesia program demands considerable evaluative skills on the part of faculty members and clinical instructors. Specifying objectives and measuring student performance requires continual monitoring to ascertain student progress.