Keywords

clinical competency, clinical evaluation, graduate nursing education, nurse practitioner, objective structured clinical examination (OSCE), standardized patient

 

Authors

  1. Benbenek, Mary PhD, APRN, CPNP, FNP-BC
  2. Dierich, Mary PhD, APRN, GNP-BC
  3. Wyman, Jean PhD, APRN, GNP-BC, FAAN, FGSA
  4. Avery, Melissa PhD, APRN, CNM, FACNM, FAAN
  5. Juve, Catherine PhD, APRN, WHNP-BC
  6. Miller, Jane PhD

Abstract

Determining when advanced practice registered nurse students are safe and competent for beginning-level practice is challenging. This article describes the development and testing of a capstone objective structured clinical examination designed to evaluate the practice readiness of students enrolled in the family, adult-gerontology, women's health nurse practitioner, and nurse-midwifery tracks. Lessons learned from this process and how they were used to enhance the curricula are discussed.