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A validation study: simulations as a measure of nurse practitioners' problem-solving skills
Nursing Research
|May 1, 1981
Summary
Patient management problems (PMPs) simulations show modest validity for assessing clinical problem-solving skills in nurse practitioners. A multiple-choice exam proved equally or more effective for this evaluation.
Area of Science:
- Nursing Education
- Healthcare Simulation
- Clinical Assessment
Background:
- Clinical simulation is increasingly used in healthcare education.
- Validating the effectiveness of different simulation methods is crucial for accurate skill assessment.
- Nurse practitioners require robust methods to evaluate their clinical problem-solving abilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To validate patient management problems (PMPs) as a measure of clinical problem-solving skills.
- To compare the validity of PMP simulations against other assessment instruments.
- To assess the construct validity of PMP simulations in a national sample of nurse practitioners.
Main Methods:
- A national sample of 79 masters- and certificate-prepared family and adult nurse practitioners participated.
- Six instruments were used: self-chart audit, self-evaluation, colleague evaluation, multiple-choice examination, PMP simulation, and demographic questionnaire.
- Statistical analyses included multitrait-multimethod correlation matrix, MANCOVA, and stepwise multiple regression.
Main Results:
- Modest evidence supported the PMP simulation's validity for measuring clinical problem-solving.
- A multiple-choice examination demonstrated comparable or superior validity to PMP simulations.
- The study provides insights into the comparative effectiveness of different assessment tools.
Conclusions:
- Patient management problem simulations offer a potentially valid method for assessing nurse practitioner clinical problem-solving.
- Multiple-choice examinations may be an equally or more effective tool for evaluating these skills.
- Further research is warranted to refine and validate simulation-based assessments in nursing.
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