How are you taking your skills exams? Recorded Video or Direct Observation

Simplistic · Mar 6, 2017

At my school, we have to schedule specific test out times. These time slots were usually 30 minutes- 1 hour long, depending on the skill. When we arrived, we were assigned an instructor. We then had to demonstrate the skill, to them. There was no recording. I have to say though, the test out instructors at my school were really lenient. We could mess up multiple times and still pass.

mindofmidwifery, ADN · Mar 6, 2017

We're observed directly by instructors when we perform our skills.

verene, MSN · Mar 6, 2017

Skills demonstrations are done live in front of instructors. Fortunately the instructors keep it very low-key feeling so they typically don't feel high pressure.

Nursingstudent711 · Mar 7, 2017

Our skills exams are recorded, then the faculty reviews them later. Then our grades are posted. We can request to review it with them. If we fail we remediate on video again. The problem is that two students record each other and if you accidentally talk to the other student it is considered cheating and collusion. Two students from our class had never been on video before and accidentally talked to each other on the video. Both were sent to the Dean for cheating and the Student Affairs board for punishment. Both of them say they weren't cheating and were just nervous never having been videotaped before. I agree with them. I don't think it is cheating. I also don't really agree with videotaping for testing purposes especially if you have never been video taped before. I can see how someone could get really nervous and make a mistake their first time doing it. We are told to never video tape each other in lab so how were they supposed to know they would be so nervous? Video taping is supposed to be a great teaching tool, but to test someone on video when they have never done it before seems kind of unfair. Thoughts?

FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN · Mar 7, 2017

Our skills exams are recorded, then the faculty reviews them later. Then our grades are posted. We can request to review it with them. If we fail we remediate on video again. The problem is that two students record each other and if you accidentally talk to the other student it is considered cheating and collusion. Two students from our class had never been on video before and accidentally talked to each other on the video. Both were sent to the Dean for cheating and the Student Affairs board for punishment. Both of them say they weren't cheating and were just nervous never having been videotaped before. I agree with them. I don't think it is cheating. I also don't really agree with videotaping for testing purposes especially if you have never been video taped before. I can see how someone could get really nervous and make a mistake their first time doing it. We are told to never video tape each other in lab so how were they supposed to know they would be so nervous? Video taping is supposed to be a great teaching tool, but to test someone on video when they have never done it before seems kind of unfair. Thoughts?

Doesn't seem conducive to learning. It seems kind of cheap.

At my skills test, we could receive guidance from the instructor. We could redo it if needed. No one failed.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Mar 8, 2017

At my school, we have to schedule specific test out times. These time slots were usually 30 minutes- 1 hour long, depending on the skill. When we arrived, we were assigned an instructor. We then had to demonstrate the skill, to them. There was no recording. I have to say though, the test out instructors at my school were really lenient. We could mess up multiple times and still pass.

As a CNA instructor, I'll say that as long as the student demonstrates that they are aware that they messed up and HOW they messed up (I broke sterile field when I reached across it to grab that thing) we're fairly lenient. Especially if I know the student and know that they're clear on sterile procedures. If I know the student and know that they mess up sterility every time, I would not let breaking the sterile field pass on an individual skill such as Foley or trach care. If I don't know the student, I would be less lenient. But we have 16 students and four instructors, so we know our students.