Nursing

Evidence-based expert: Try these methods when validating competencies

Staff Development Weekly: Insight on Evidence-Based Practice in Education, September 4, 2008

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This week's expert, Barbara A. Brunt, MA, MN, RN-BC, discusses various means of competency validation.

Q. What are some techniques for validating nursing competencies?

A. It is important to realize there are numerous ways to validate competencies:

  • Posttests. Tests can be used to document basic knowledge so participants don't have to take a course or program when they can show they have the basic knowledge required by the course.
  • Case studies. Individuals can describe how they would provide care for a particular patient or how they would deal with a particular scenario presented to them.
  • Exemplars. Individuals describe how they handled a particular situation; in essence, they write or tell a story about it. Their narrative allows the clinician to describe the step-by-step progression of the incident, as well as the feelings, thoughts, and conclusions from their reflection of the situation.

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