Preceptor to preceptor: Tips for evaluating WOC nurses in clinical practicum

Purpose: Develop a standardized objective evaluation tool for the WOC nursing student’s clinical performance.

Objectives: 

 (1) Maintain the standards and quality of WOC nursing by objectively measuring the student’s ability to meet the WOC school competencies.

 (2) A tool which can be used for both formative and summative evaluation

(3) Objective and collaborative evaluation to measure the WOC ability to turn theory into practice

Assessing the WOC students can be subjective in determining the student’s performance and interpretation of the WOC School’s competencies.  The student’s performance can be viewed as not reliable because of the preceptor’s misconceptions of the student’s performance or biases due to personality conflicts.  Some preceptors may be reluctant to give poor marks to the student and will pass the student due to the personal relationship which has developed during the preceptorship. Standards in WOC nursing have been established and an accurate and objective assessment will ensure standards.   Rubric tool can provide timely and detailed feedback of the students’ performance so that the student and preceptor will be able to objectively evaluate if the student is meeting the school’s competencies.

Outcomes:

The outcomes were measured by the preceptor and preceptee filling out a questionnaire regarding the use of the evaluation tool. 

(1) The student was able to build critical thinking skills due to the unbiased and objective feedback of the formative evaluation.

(2)  There is increase communication and collaborative skills between the preceptor and student due to formative evaluation

(3) The preceptor was more focused in giving the student the opportunities and task needed to meet the school’s competencies.