Croatian Nursing Journal, Vol. 1 No. 1, 2017.
Review article
https://doi.org/10.24141/2/1/1/8
Use of the objective structured clinical examination in undergraduate nursing education
Martina Smrekar
; University of Applied Health Sciences, Zagreb, Croatia
Sanja Ledinski Fičko
; University of Applied Health Sciences, Zagreb, Croatia
Ana Marija Hošnjak
; University of Applied Health Sciences, Zagreb, Croatia
Boris Ilić
; University of Applied Health Sciences, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Background. The Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) is often used in undergraduate nursing education as a means to provide standardised and objective evaluation of clinical skills required for nurses' future professional activity. It aims to help students master different clinical skills and prepare them for an adequate response to specific problems through simulation of various practical scenarios. Students practice clinical skills in a safe and controlled environment under the supervision of a mentor. Since the mid-1970s, OSCE has been used to assess clinical skills of medical students. From then until today, it has been applied in evaluating different profiles of health professionals, especially nurses.
Aim. The purpose of this paper is to present scientific evidence regarding the benefits of OSCE in undergraduate nursing education. The aim of this paper is to analyse findings on the use of OSCE in undergraduate nursing education worldwide, as well as students' and educators' perception of the OSCE examination.
Methods. A systematic review of articles published in MEDLINE, regarding the use of OSCE in nursing education, and students' and educators' perception of the OSCE examination, was carried out in the period between 2005 and 2017.
Results. In total, 8 articles were taken into consideration. These studies were selected because they provided information on the use of OSCE in nursing education worldwide and students' and educators' perception of the OSCE examination.
Conclusion. The application of OSCE has multiple benefits for nursing students. It can easily assess the knowledge and performance of clinical skills important for nursing practice. It serves to better prepare students for their professional activity.
Keywords
OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination); nursing education; clinical skills
Hrčak ID:
194756
URI
Publication date:
18.12.2017.
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