Registered Nurse/Bsc (Hons) Nursing Practice

Registered Nurse/BSc (Hons) Nursing Practice

ASSESSMENT OF PRACTICE LEARNING RECORD

Children’s Nursing Year 1

Name:
Student Number:
Cohort:
Personal Tutor:

Reference
Programme:
BSc (Hons) Nursing Practice
Validated:
2013
Re-approval due:
2018
Document:
Assessment of Practice Record – Year 1
Last update:
MARCH 15

Placement Details:

Please include name of Trust, Dept. and/or Community Team

PLP1

PLP2

PLP3

Introduction to the Assessment of Practice Strategy

Student nurses should be assisted to work towards autonomous practice at the point of registration and to develop the skills needed to work as an effective member of an inter-professional/multi-agency team in which they will provide the lead for nursing care.

In each year of the BSc (Hons) Nursing Practice programme the students will undertake practice related modules which will include being assessed in practice. Competence is a combination of attributes such as knowledge, skills and attitudes. Eraut (1994) suggests that there are two important aspects to the assessment of competence – evidence based on performance, and evidence of capability. These principles have therefore been integrated into the assessment of practice strategy.

This document includes the Ongoing Achievement Record as part of the practice assessment.

The assessment of practice documentation will form a significant part of the student’s portfolio and will therefore provide performance evidence from what has been directly observed and assessed. Observed clinical skill examinations and written assignments will provide documentary evidence of capability as they will assess the quality of the student’s cognitive processes and test the student’s knowledge base as a foundation for future practice, and the understanding of concepts, theories and principles that underpin practice.

Student nurses must provide support to both individuals and groups of clients at all stages of life in acute and community settings.

The practice strategy is based on the clinical learning spiral (Stockhausen 1994) in that the students will gradually build up a repertoire of skills as the competencies themselves merge and develop in increasing complexity through the different stages of the programme, and reflect their broadening experience. They are based on the NMC standards and the essential skills clusters (NMC 2010) and have been formulated to globally assess knowledge, skills, attitude and understanding.

At the end of the programme the student nurse must be able to function as a registered practitioner capable of safe and effective practice without supervision.

References:

Eraut M (1994) Developing Professional Knowledge and Competence. Great Britain, Routledge-Falmer

Nursing and Midwifery Council (2010) Standards for pre-registration nursing education. London, NMC.

Stockhausen, L. (1994) The Clinical Learning Spiral: A Model to Develop Reflective Practitioners. Nurse Education Today, 14: pp 363-371.

Assessment roles: summary of key personnel

Mentors are responsible and accountable for:
· Organising and co-ordinating student learning activities in practice.
· Supervising students in learning situations and providing them with constructive feedback on their achievements.
· Setting and monitoring achievement of realistic learning objectives.
· Assessing total performance – including skills, attitudes and behaviours.
· Providing evidence as required by programme providers of student achievement or lack of achievement.
· Liaising with others to provide feedback, identify any concerns about the student’s performance and agree action as appropriate e.g. escalation.
· Providing evidence for, or acting as, sign-off mentors with regard to making decisions about achievement of proficiency at the end of a programme.
Whilst giving direct care in the practice setting at least 40% of the student’s time must be spent being supervised (directly or indirectly) by a mentor.
Sign-off Mentor
A registered nurse who has undertaken appropriate mentorship preparation, is annotated on the Mentor register and who meets the NMC criteria to be a sign-off mentor (NMC 2008). The mentor will supervise and assess student nurses whilst on clinical placement.
Sign-off mentors must have time allocated to reflect, give feedback and keep records of student achievements in their final period of practice learning. This will be the equivalent of an hour per student per week (NMC 2008: Section 2).
The sign-off mentor must make summative judgements on a student nurse’s progress at the progression points within the programme. At the final assessment of practice the student must demonstrate competence in all NMC standards in order to enter the register as a nurse. The sign-off mentor must confirm that the student is capable of safe, effective and efficient practice without the need for direct supervision.
Mentor Triennial review (NMC, 2008)
Mentors are required to have a triennial review. This will be undertaken by the employing organisation and will normally form part of employer appraisal processes.
To be maintained on the local register the individual must have evidence of having:
· Mentored at least two students with due regard (extenuating circumstances permitting) within the three year period.
· Participated in annual updating – to include an opportunity to meet and explore assessment and supervision issues with other mentors.
· Explored as a group activity the validity and reliability of judgements made when assessing practice in challenging circumstances.
· Mapped ongoing development in their role against the current NMC mentor standards
· Been deemed to have met all requirements needed to be maintained on the local register as a sign-off mentor.
Student Nurse
Will work under the supervision of a qualified mentor and collect evidence to demonstrate achievement of the practice outcomes. The student’s duty rota should mirror the mentor(s) hours wherever possible.
Personal Tutor
All student nurses are allocated a lecturer at the commencement of the programme who will become their personal tutor. The personal tutor will monitor theoretical and practical progress throughout the programme and will record all meetings and achievements in the student’s personal file.
The Assessment of Practice Record must be presented at all meetings with the personal tutor, in particular at the end of each Practice Learning Period (PLP). It must be complete and up to date at the end of each PLP so that the Personal Tutor can sign it.
Practice Support Lecturer
An academic member of the university who works closely with the nursing staff /managers - together they are responsible for quality assurance and the assessment of practice process in the placement area.
Clinical Placement Facilitator or equivalent Support Role
A clinical member of staff responsible for the quality of the learning environment in a set of placement areas. They are able to offer support and advice to students and mentors in practice.
Module Leader
A nurse lecturer who is responsible for a module and who provides academic guidance for the summative assessment(s) for that module.

Contact telephone numbers:

Faculty of Health Sciences – Stafford: 01785 353766
Faculty of Health Sciences – Shrewsbury: 01743 261136

Information for Students and Mentors

Assessment of practice learning – Year 1
The student’s progress will be monitored during Practice Learning Periods (PLP) over the course of each year. Each PLP will be assessed and must be passed in order for the student to progress. Domains 1 and 2 (Professional Values and Communication/Interpersonal Skills) are assessed in every PLP. PLP 3, 6 and 8 assess all 4 domains. The sequence of the assessment of practice in each PLP will therefore be as follows:
Process – the following interviews must take place in all placements:
Initial interview / During the course of the placement the student must be supervised (directly or indirectly) by the mentor for a minimum of 40% of the allocated time.
During the first week the mentor should sign the declaration confirming eligibility to supervise and assess the student.
An initial interview should be held and the details recorded on the ‘Progress Review’.
A discussion regarding learning needs should be conducted and a ‘Learning Contract’ should be formulated and agreed. This may include any specific placement learning opportunities.
Midpoint interview(s) / Progress review meetings should be organised and recorded as required (at least one intermediate interview must be held).
Other registered nurses or link tutors may record meetings on the Progress Review pages.
Final interview / A final interview must be conducted towards the end of the placement. The mentor will make a judgement regarding the student’s progress / achievement of each practice outcome and complete the documentation.
N.B. Progress towards achievement of the practice outcomes may be assessed at any time during the placement.
Process – specific requirements relating to placements
Practice Learning
Period 1 / At the end of the placement the mentor will undertake a progress review in relation to the student’s progress towards achievement of the practice outcomes in Domains 1 and 2. Both these domains must be passed in order for the student to progress to the next placement.
Outcomes in Domains 3 and 4 should also be reviewed with the student to identify what the student needs to develop. Performance in these domains is developmental.
Practice Learning
Period 2 / At the beginning of the placement, the mentor will undertake a review of progress from the previous placement prior to formulation of a learning contract. At the end of the placement the mentor will undertake a progress review in relation to the student’s progress towards achievement of the practice outcomes in Domains 1 and 2. Both these domains must be passed in order for the student to progress to the next placement.
Outcomes in Domains 3 and 4 should also be reviewed with the student to identify what the student needs to develop. Performance in these domains is developmental.
Practice Learning
Period 3 / At the beginning of the placement the mentor will undertake a review of progress from the previous placement prior to formulation of a learning contract. At the end of the placement the mentor will make a judgement on whether or not the student has achieved the practice outcomes in all Domains. These must all be passed in order for the student to progress to Year 2.
Assessment of the practice outcomes:
1. / Direct observation / The mentor is required to confirm that the student has been directly observed undertaking the activities detailed in the practice domains.
2. / Question and answer / The mentor should assess the student’s knowledge and understanding through direct questioning.
3. / Other evidence / The student is required to provide detail regarding experience and evidence that contributes to progress / achievement of the practice domains. A variety of methods can be utilized as detailed below:
Key:
(RK) Record Keeping
(MW) Multi-disciplinary Working
(S) Simulation
(R) Reflection
(RES) Research
(PG) Policies/Guidelines
(ROE) Record of Experience – EC Directives
(M) Meeting
(D) Discussion
(SU) Service user involvement
(MECC) Making every contact count
Judgements:
PLP 1 and 2 / One of the following judgements should be made:
Pass – performance is commensurate with that expected for the stage of the programme and experience.
Refer – performance is below the standard expected for the stage of the programme and experience. An explanation is required when a decision to refer is made.
If the student is referred a re-take (2nd attempt) is allowed.
Fail – the student is removed from the course.
PLP3 / One of the following judgements should be made by the mentor:
Pass - the student has acquired the standard expected for progression into Year 2.
Refer –the student has not acquired the standard expected for the stage of the programme and cannot progress into Year 2. An explanation is required when a decision to refer is made.
Fail – the student is removed from the course.

Mentor Declaration

All mentors who have been involved in the assessment of student nurses must sign the following declaration.

It is an NMC requirement that mentors remain in date and have a current Triennial Review for the duration of the student placement

Print name:
I confirm that:
I meet the NMC criteria to be a mentor (see page 3) / Please tick
o
I am currently on the ‘Register of Clinical Practice Mentors', held by the Trust / o
I attended a mentors’ update on
Signature: / Initials and Date:
Print name:
I confirm that:
I meet the NMC criteria to be a mentor (see page 3) / Please tick
o
I am currently on the ‘Register of Clinical Practice Mentors', held by the Trust / o
I attended a mentors’ update on
Signature: / Initials and Date:
Print name:
I confirm that:
I meet the NMC criteria to be a mentor (see page 3) / Please tick
o
I am currently on the ‘Register of Clinical Practice Mentors', held by the Trust / o
I attended a mentors’ update on
Signature: / Initials and Date:
Print name:
I confirm that:
I meet the NMC criteria to be a mentor (see page 3) / Please tick
o
I am currently on the ‘Register of Clinical Practice Mentors', held by the Trust / o
I attended a mentors’ update on
Signature: / Initials and Date:
Print name:
I confirm that:
I meet the NMC criteria to be a mentor (see page 3) / Please tick
o
I am currently on the ‘Register of Clinical Practice Mentors', held by the Trust / o
I attended a mentors’ update on
Signature: / Initials and Date:
Print name:
I confirm that:
I meet the NMC criteria to be a mentor (see page 3) / Please tick
o
I am currently on the ‘Register of Clinical Practice Mentors', held by the Trust / o
I attended a mentors’ update on
Signature: / Initials and Date:
Print name:
I confirm that:
I meet the NMC criteria to be a mentor (see page 3) / Please tick
o
I am currently on the ‘Register of Clinical Practice Mentors', held by the Trust / o
I attended a mentors’ update on
Signature: / Initials and Date:
Print name:
I confirm that:
I meet the NMC criteria to be a mentor (see page 3) / Please tick
o
I am currently on the ‘Register of Clinical Practice Mentors', held by the Trust / o
I attended a mentors’ update on
Signature: / Initials and Date:

Documentation checklist: to be completed by Mentor