ASSESSMENT OF NURSING STUDENT PERFORMANCE IN CLINICAL SETTINGS – USEFULNESS OF RATING SCALES FOR SUMMATIVE EVALUATION

Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate the use and effectiveness of a valid and reliable rating scale for summative clinical evaluation of student performance. Design: A descriptive cross-sectional study. Methods: The study was carried out at two Slovak universities in the academic years of 2015 and 2016. The study sample included performance evaluations of 82 students made by different lecturers using the the Nursing Student Clinical Performance Evaluation Scale (NSCPES), before the practical component of their final examinations. The students’ performances were repeatedly evaluated by five lecturers. This evaluation was compared with the grade point for the students’ clinical performance obtained in the practical component of their final examinations. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s chi-square test, Cohenʼs Kappa, factor analyses, and the p-value < 0.05 was taken to indicate statistical significance for all comparisons. Results: Significant positive correlations were noted between two evaluations – before the final examinations using the NSCPES rating scale, and standard clinical assessment during the final examinations (r = 0.334; p ≤ 0.01). The value of Cohen's Kappa was very low (0.04) and insignificant (p = 0.32), indicating low agreement between the two evaluations. The Slovak version was not conceptually consistent with the original version. In the Slovak version, two originally independent domains (professionalism and ethical principles) were merged into one variable – responsibility and professionalism. Conclusion: The multidimensional nature of clinical practice necessitates the use of a complex of assessment measures. A valid and reliable tool may allow an objective evaluation of nursing student performance in clinical settings. The Nursing Student Clinical Performance Evaluation Scale is useful for summative evaluation of student performance, allowing teachers  and clinical mentors to rate performance over time, and to note patterns of performance. Keywords: assessment, clinical practice, education, nursing, rating scale, reliability, validity