Category: Learning and Teaching

Date of Approval: Feb 2009

Participants in DIVISION 1/REGISTERED NURSE REGISTRATION PROGRAMS will only progress into the clinical component of the course once they have successfully completed all assessments for the theoretical component.

Participants will be placed into a clinical group, usually between 4 and 8 students, and this group will be placed into clinical placement at a recognized and reputable hospital within Australia.

Each group will have their own clinical supervisor, sometimes from VCHN and at other times provided by the hospital.

If the clinical placement location is more than 60 kilometres from VCHN in Heidelberg, VCHN will arrange student accommodation in the vicinity of the clinical placement venue.

If necessary, VCHN will arrange transport from the accommodation location to the clinical placement venue.

The VCHN Course Coordinator and your Clinical Supervisor (the assessor) will meet on a fortnightly basis during the clinical component of the course to ensure students progress is monitored and is satisfactory.

On completion of clinical practice the Clinical Supervisor and course coordinator will meet to review the Clinical Assessment Tool and discuss each student’s level of competence and any issues regarding the clinical practice.

Once documented evidence is provided that competency has been achieved, the course coordinator will complete the recommendation form with both the Clinical Supervisor and the participant’s signatures and any comments.

All outcomes of assessment and course completion will be reviewed by the Training Manager. The Training Manager will review the processes undertaken, assessment results and confirm the outcome prior to recommendations proceeding to the Accrediting Nurses Board.

Assessment is ongoing throughout the participants clinical practice experience. The assessor gathers evidence from a variety of sources such as direct observation, interview, and analysis of documentation.

In recording an assessment of competence, the Clinical Supervisor has the responsibility to ensure that recommendations regarding a participant for registration are based on valid and reliable assessments.

The course will be conducted for between 360 and 480 hours. Participants will have completed 160 hours of relevant theory prior to entry into the supervised clinical practice component of the course. Between 200 and 320 hours will be in the clinical setting. If additional time is required to complete the competencies, the Accrediting Nurses Board will be notified.

The competencies will be integrated with the Australian Nursing & Midwifery Council (ANMC) National Competency Standards for the Registered Nurse. This assessment tool is based on the ANMC Principles for Assessment which includes:

1. Accountability
The assessor is accountable to the profession and to the VCHN College of Health and Nursing to:

• make valid assessment about a nurse participant’s performance and for recommending that that nurse being
  
• assessed meets the competency standards required.
  
• maintain confidentiality at all times.
  
• declare any conflicts of interest where impartiality cannot be assured.

2. Assessment of Performance
The assessment is based on total performance including knowledge, skills, attributes, values and abilities. Clinical competence is performance based and carried out by qualified assessors in the clinical setting.

3. Context based
The context in which the assessment occurs is considered to be an essential component of the assessment due to variability of the clinical environment. Factors such as environment, relationships, behaviours and peers should be considered.

4. Evidence Based Assessment
Evidence based means that an assessment is based on a model of evidence based on professional judgment. The use of significant cues assists the Clinical Supervisor to infer that competence has been reached in a particular competency.
The Clinical Supervisor gathers evidence and draws inferences about competence. These inferences are made about performance and related knowledge, attitudes and skills and a judgment can be made on all of these combined aspects.
Sources of evidence may include:

• Observation of performance
  
• Screening of documentation
  
• Interviewing and discussions with participant
  
• Reviewing nursing care plans
  
• Discussions with peers and patients
  
• Written papers and other knowledge challenges
  
• Self assessment by the participant

Reflection and re-interpretation of evidence about the performance of the nurse participant is essential and adds to the reliability of the assessment judgment.

5. Validity and reliability
Validity in the assessment process is the extent to which assessment meets the intended outcomes. Reliability in the assessment process refers to the consistency or accuracy of the outcome of the assessment process.

6. Collaboration and participation
The participant and the Clinical Supervisor should develop a relationship based on participation and collaboration. Both the participant and Clinical Supervisor should feel confident in the assessment method.

The assessment model requires a high level of communication and negotiation, reflection on and re-interpretation of performance. Processes are in place to deal with grievances and concerns regarding the assessment process. These processes also enable review of the results of assessment judgments. (Based on The Principles for the Assessment of National Competency Standards for Registered and Enrolled Nurses. (ANMC)