What Consitutes an Unsatisfactory Clinical?

SunnyAndrsn · Oct 23, 2008

Our criteria are set on a a 3-2-1 basis,

3 = exceeds expectations for students at this level

2 = working at expected level

1 = unsafe

So, any situation that is unsafe results in remediation, with the student expected to do some sort of paper/research on why that's a safety concern:

-ambulating unsafely

-bed not in low positions

-no side rails up

-missing call light

Areas of competencies evaluated include

-communication

-critical thinking

-skills

-safe med administration (and passing two med math quizes per clinical)

-preparation/knowledge content, knowing pathphysiology of pt's conditions

I can't remember what else, I think professionalism, which includes being on time, communication kept professional with staff, clean uniforms, etc.

Is that what you were getting at? I don't have a copy of the rubric used right now, I can get more into detail when I get home if this is what your driving at, but that's how the letter grade is calculated.

I need help from you more experienced nurses. I am a senior BSN student in a program that is reworking the Nursing Student Handbook for our department. After numerous unsatisfactories that seem petty to many students, the faculty is trying to meet us in the middle and formulate some way of FAIRLY determining what actually constitutes an unsatisfactory. So, what do you think constitues an unsatisfactory? Please be specific. Maybe give an example or rationale. THANKS!!!!

Marette S. · Oct 24, 2008

Yeah, this is what i am talking about. We need a basis or standard against which to compare a clinical behavior. Something predetermined that will help dictate if an action does constitute and unsatisfactory or if it is just something that needs to be worked out. For example, if a student comes to clinical without a piece of uniform, is that an unsatisfactory? Some say yes because the student is not prepared. Others say no because it is not that important in the bigger scheme of things like being safe for your patient. Any more information you can give me on this would be helpful! I am the student-faculty liaison as part of my position as nursing teaching assistant. The lack of standard is causing a huge breakdown of communication between our faculty and students. It is something that we have to fix and I need all the help I can get!

SunnyAndrsn · Oct 24, 2008

okay, i found this online:

http://classes.kumc.edu/son/nurs420/clinical/clin%20eval.htm

another one:

http://www.cvtc.edu/programs/deptpages/nursing/transitions_f06.pdf

i guess to answer your questions, some students have been sent home and/or put on remediation for forgetting pens, watches, stethescopes, and/or name tags. in my transitions orientation, we had a lecture about the name tags, "it's not professional to slap a piece of tape to your uniform and write your name on it". i agree...

another evaluation tool i found:

nursing.msu.edu/downloads/clinical%20evaluation%20tool%20(faculty).doc

i hope these help and give you some direction.