This document discusses various methods used to assess nursing students' skills, including traditional practical exams, observational checklists, anecdotal records, and OSCE/OSPE exams. Traditional practical exams assess students' practical skills and ability to apply knowledge in real-life settings, but they can be time-consuming and introduce bias. Observational checklists and anecdotal records provide formative feedback on students' skills and behaviors, but lack standardization. A combination of assessment methods is recommended for a comprehensive evaluation of students' skills.

1. Assessment of skills

2. Introduction
Knowledge is tested in theory examination and skills are evaluated
in clinical and practical examination. Various methods are used in
assessing skill from traditional periods to modern periods. A wise
combination of these tools are mandatory for a holistic
comprehensive skill assessment.

3. Methods
Assessment of skill is done by following methods
➢ Traditional or Conventional practical examination
➢ Observational checklist
➢ Anecdotal records
➢ OSCE/OSPE

4. Practical examination

5. Traditional method
It is concerned with the assessment of practical performance in practical
laboratories or real life practice areas. It helps to cover all four domains
which includes
Knowledge
Attitude
IPR and
Skills

6. Purposes
● To assess the practical skills and competencies of nursing
students
● To assess the student’s response to real life experience or
simulated experience
● To assess the student’s problem solving skill
● To assess the skill of transforming theoretical knowledge
in practice.

7. Phases /Guidelines
The traditional practical exam includes two phases
Planning phase
Conducting phase

8. Planning phase
● Consider learning objective
● Decide appropriate place
● Plan for a familiar phase
● Arrange for adequate supply
● Take prior permission
● Prepare evaluation criteria

9. Conducting phase
● Reach the area as per schedule
● Convey rules and regulations to students
● Assign patients randomly
● Provide sufficient time to perform
● Follow confidentiality
● Score with the evaluation criteria
● Avoid bias

10. Advantages
● Provides opportunity to assess the skills and competency
● Opportunity for examiners to assess the holistic performance
● Assessing communication and IPR skills

11. Disadvantages
● Time consuming
● Not feasible for large group
● Sometimes disturbances created in ward may affect the smooth
conduction of examination
● Personal bias
● Lack of standardized assessment

12. Observational checklist
A checklist consists of a listing of steps, activities or behavior which the observer
records when an incident occurs.
A checklist enables the observer to note only whether or not a trait or
characteristics is present.

13. Guidelines in using checklist
I. Checklist should be directly related to learning objectives.
ii. It needs to be confined to performance areas that can be assessed by positive
and negative criteria.
iii. Use checklist when ascertaining a trait or characteristics is present or absent.
iv. Clearly specify the traits to be observed.
v. Have a separate checklist for each candidate.
vi. Multiple observation provide a more accurate assessment.
vii. Student should be evaluated in natural setting.

15. Anecdotal records

16. Definition
It is a brief description of an observed behavior that appears significant for
evaluation purposes.
An objective description by the teacher of a significant occurrence or
an episode in the life of the student

17. Characteristics
A factual description of an event in which:-
i. How it occurred,
ii. When it occurred,
iii. Under what circumstances it occurred,
iv. The treatment……. Each anecdotal should be of one incident

18. Purpose
1) To stimulate teachers to look for information i.e. to help student in
self-adjustment.
2) The teacher is able to understand her pupil in realistic manner.
3) It provides healthy pupil-teacher relationship.
4) Helps the student to improve in their behavior, as it is a direct feedback of an
entire observed incident.
5) Can be used by students for self appraisal and peer assessment.

19. Principles
● Concentrate on only one on two behavior observation should be selective.
● Record should be complete.
● They should be kept by all teacher and not only by the student teacher.
● Record the incident or action as soon as possible after it has happened.
● The teacher should have practice and training in making observation and
writing

21. Advantages
1) Provision of insight into total behavioral incidents.
2) Use of formative feedback.
3) Economical and easy to develop.

22. DISADVANTAGES
1) If careless recorded, the purpose will not be fulfilled
2) Subjectivity.
3) Lack of standardization.
4) Difficulty in scoring.
5) Time consuming.

23. Watch my playlist for more videos
And follow me on slideshare