objective structured clinical examination: a successful approach to pre-registration mental health nurse assessment

Murcott, W.J. and Clarke, N.M. (2017) objective structured clinical examination: a successful approach to pre-registration mental health nurse assessment. The Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice, 12 (2). pp. 90-97. ISSN 1755-6228

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Abstract

Purpose – Pre-registration mental health nursing courses are a mixture of clinical practice and university based
education completed over three years, culminating in a successful student entering the professional
nursing register. During a student’s time at university they will encounter many different types of assessment,
whether formative or summative. These are typically academic written assignments, academic exams,
presentations, viva, assessed clinical practice by an approved mentor, and objective structured clinical exam
(OSCE). The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach – An OSCE to assess second year mental health nursing students was
determined to be a highly appropriate method of allowing students to demonstrate the skills associated with
the nursing process, NMC standards and learning outcomes for the module.

Findings – It was recognised that preparation was essential in supporting the reduction of the student’s
anxieties over the process, careful design and planning was needed to ensure reliability and validity of a
logistically challenging assessment method.

Originality/value – OSCE have become a major contributor towards the assessment of student nurses and
are regarded by some as the gold standard for assessment. However, this assessment has not been widely utilised within mental health nurse education and little research exists surrounding their use. This paper
furthers the literature base on the use of OSCE by exploring the underpinning design rationale and the
subjective experience of staff and students.

Item Type:	Article
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.1108/JMHTEP-06-2016-0031
Dates:	Date Event 1 March 2017 Accepted
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Students, Undergraduate, Mental health nursing, Assessment, OSCE
Subjects:	CAH02 - subjects allied to medicine > CAH02-04 - nursing and midwifery > CAH02-04-01 - nursing (non-specific)
Divisions:	Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences > School of Nursing and Midwifery
Depositing User:	Nicola Clarke
Date Deposited:	05 Jul 2019 15:33
Last Modified:	12 Jan 2022 11:25
URI:	https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/id/eprint/7668

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