The Catholic University of America

Cindy Grandjean, Mary Paterson

And Terry Walsh

June, 2008
QSEN Annual Meeting
Charlotte, NC
The Catholic University of America
School of Nursing

• Challenges with Prior Evaluation Tool

• Difficult grading algorithm.
• Inconsistent grading implementation of clinical behaviors
by part time clinical faculty.
• Major Change in Curriculum.
• Expanding and growing undergraduate enrollment.
• Change in Grading Schema.
The Catholic University of America
School of Nursing

OLD GRADING SCHEME

A 96-100%
A- 95%-92%
B+ 91%-89%
B 88-86%
B- 85-83%
C+ 82%-79%
C 77%-74%
C- 73%- 70%
D 69%- 60% In both schemes students
F 59% or Below
Had to achieve at least a
NEW GRADING SCHEME
C to pass the clinical course
A 94%-100%
A- 90%-93%
B+ 89%-86%
B 85%-83%
B- 82%-80%
C+ 79%-76%
C 75%-73%
C- 72%-70
D 69%-60%
F 59% or Below
The Catholic University of America
School of Nursing

OLD GRADING SCHEME

A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
Matriculated according to class level
C
C-
D
F

NEW GRADING SCHEME

PASS
FAIL
Matriculated according to Key for each course
The Catholic University of America
School of Nursing

OLD GRADING SCHEME

Average of

• Didactic Grade (Ex., A, A-, B+, etc.)

AND
• Clinical Evaluation Grade (Ex., A, A-,
B+, etc.)

NEW GRADING SCHEME

• Didactic Grade (Ex., A, A-, B+, etc.)

IF AND ONLY IF
• Clinical Evaluation Grade is
PASS
• If Clinical Evaluation is a FAIL,
student does not progress and FAILS the
course
The Catholic University of America
School of Nursing

•Major outline of criteria tool needed to meet determined

by BCC
•Sub-committee developed to create a draft document
•Review of AACN’s Core competencies
•Review of QSEN’s KSA’s
•Examination of School’s Terminal objectives and mission
•Draft document approved by Baccalaureate Curriculum
Committee and in undergoing pilot testing this summer
The Catholic University of America
School of Nursing
 Core Competencies Midterm Final Midterm Final
Comments Comments

S NI U S U
Provides Patient-Centered Care
o Values
o Caring
o Spirituality
o Human Dignity
o Ethics
Exhibits Teamwork and Collaboration
o Communication
o Personnel (Faculty, Staff, Patients, Peers,
Family)
o Oral (non-verbal)
o Written (Documentation)
o Roles
Incorporates Evidence-Based Practice
o Critical Thinking
Understands & Applies Quality Improvement Methods

o Leadership
o Assessment
o Promote Healing
Promotes Safety
o Technical skills
Understands & Utilizes Informatics
o Appropriate decision making based upon core
competencies above and implemented with
informatics support

S = Satisfactory
NI = Needs Improvement
U = Unsatisfactory
The Catholic University of America
School of Nursing

•Each student will fill out an evaluation at (1) midterm (2) final.
Each faculty member will fill out an evaluation at (1) midterm
(2) final.
•Each row item (boxes) must be checked at (1) midterm (2) final.
•The Clinical Score will be completed by the Clinical Faculty by
placing a “ √ “ or a “ x “ in the appropriate box for each student.
•The Clinical Score will be completed by the Student by placing
a “ √ “ or a “ x “ in the appropriate box for each student.
•The score for Clinical Evaluation will be either “Passing” or
“Failing”.
•A passing grade will only be assigned if all the items are
checked “S” at the time of the final evaluation.
The Catholic University of America
School of Nursing

•Each core competency (as outlined in BOLD on the tool and seen
below) will have a template or key, which specifies individual guidelines
and examples for each.

• Provides Patient-Centered Care

• Exhibits Teamwork and Collaboration
• Incorporates Evidence-Based Practice
• Understands & Applies Quality Improvement Methods
• Promotes Safety
• Understands & Utilizes Informatics

•The keys are based upon level of matriculation in each clinical course in the
following specialties: Medical Surgical, Psychiatric, Obstetric and Community
Health Nursing.
The Catholic University of America
School of Nursing

 360 Senior evaluation that would include staff nurse

preceptors, patient opinion, clinical faculty opinion and
student review. Intended for final clinical evaluation at the
end of senior year.
 Validity and reliability assessment of core competency key
will include expert review, score-rescore assessment, and
efficiency evaluation.
 Student rating expectation management to assure clear
understanding of pass/fail criteria.
 Use of clinical evaluation in student portfolios.
 The Catholic University of America
School of Nursing

•Meet with faculty & students for input on tool post summer
clinical session, revise tool and prepare for full pilot test in
the fall.

•Define procedure/criteria for assessing validity and

reliability of tool post pilot test

•Outline the evaluation protocol to be used and orient all

faculty and students to the new tool and protocol