Some Concepts in the Evaluation of Clinical Education: a Qualitative Study on the Experiences of Nursing Students and Clinical Teachers

Background & Objective: One of the most important goals of clinical education is ensuring from students’ clinical competency. In such process, the evaluation of clinical skills is one of the most important challenges. The aim of the present study was to introduce some of the important concepts related to the evaluation of clinical skills. Methods : Using phenomenological approach, participants were selected from students and teachers of Isfahan Nursing and Midwifery School. A purposive sample of 18 individuals (10 nursing students and 8 clinical teachers) who had experienced at least one course of clinical education was recruited. An in-depth interview was undertaken and Colaizzi method was used for data analysis. The reliability and validity of the study was grounded on the four items (factual value, applicability, consistency and neutrality). Results : The transcribed interviews were analyzed in the seven stages of analysis. Emerging codes were categorized in the following three major themes: Triangulation in evaluation, the atmosphere of clinical evaluation and Evaluation syndrome. Conclusion : Based upon an emphasis on the relationship among clinical evaluation environment (physical and psychosocial), the characteristics of the evaluator and the evaluated and relevant concepts, the findings of the present study identified a need for the integration of all influential factors in the process of clinical evaluation. Findings also suggest that clinical evaluation has to enjoy relevant models including various influential factors rather than strict structured tools. Keywords: Experience, Clinical evaluation, Nursing students, Clinical Nursing teachers