How Do Nursing Programs Contribute to Learning Outcomes?

EBI, together with the AACN, created the Nursing Education Assessments to measure the effectiveness of programs from the student’s perspective. The knowledge gained from these assessments can drive and sustain continuous improvement.

Part 1: Professional Values, Core Competencies, and Technical Skills

Research Description and Summary
The first part of this research note explores how nursing programs contribute to learning outcomes related to professional values, core competencies, and technical skills.

In 2010, 18,588 students participated in the undergraduate assessment. Overall, the majority of respondents reported the nursing program had taught them to achieve a variety of key learning outcomes related to professional values, core competencies and technical skills.

Three-fourths indicated the nursing program had taught them to demonstrate accountability for their own actions, honor the right of patients to make decisions about their health care, and act as an advocate for vulnerable patients.

Regarding technical skills, at least 80% reported the nursing program taught them to assess vital signs and apply infection control measures.

Respondents who entered the nursing program with less than four years of healthcare experience were more likely than other respondents to indicate the program had taught them technical skills, such as assessing vital signs and applying infection control measures.

Significant and important differences exist by the type of degree program.

1. Nursing programs teach students about professional values.

   • At least 75% of respondents reported the nursing program taught them to demonstrate accountability for their actions, honor the right of patients to make decisions about their health care, and act as an advocate for vulnerable patients.
   • More than two-thirds of respondents indicated the program taught them to provide culturally-competent care and support fairness in the delivery of care.

2. Nursing programs teach students core competencies, such as applying research-based knowledge and assisting patients to interpret health information.

   • At least 67% of respondents indicated the nursing program taught them to apply research-based knowledge as a basis for practice, to assist patients in interpreting the meaning of health information, and to evaluate an individual’s ability to assume responsibility for self-care.
   • Approximately six out of ten respondents indicated the program taught them to make effective presentations.

3. Nursing programs teach technical skills important to the nursing profession.

   • At least 80% of respondents indicated the program taught them technical skills related to assessing vital signs and applying infection control measures.
   • Approximately three-quarters of respondents reported the nursing program taught them skills related to providing pain reduction measures and administering medications by all routes.
   • Two-thirds of respondents also indicated their program taught them to provide both physical and emotional support in preparation for therapeutic procedures.
   • Six out of ten respondents reported their program taught them how to manage wounds.

4. Overall, the extent to which nursing programs teach learning outcomes is not largely affected by students’ previous healthcare experience, except when it comes to technical skills.

   • Respondents were divided into groups by their previous healthcare experience. Although they were statistically significant, the differences in professional value and core competencies learning outcomes were small.
   • Two-thirds of respondents with four or more years of previous healthcare experience reported the nursing program taught them to make effective presentations, compared to less than 60% of other respondents.
   • Respondents with four or more years of previous healthcare experience were significantly less likely than respondents with less than a year of experience to indicate the nursing program taught them technical skills, such as assessing vital signs, applying infection control measures, providing pain reduction measures, and administering medications by all routes.

5. Significant and important differences exist between degree programs related to learning outcomes.

   • Significantly fewer respondents in accelerated programs indicated their program taught them learning outcomes related to professional values, core competencies, and technical skills.
   • While similar percentages of BSN and RN Completion respondents indicated their program had taught them learning outcomes related to professional values and core competencies, RN Completion respondents were significantly less likely than BSN respondents to report their program had taught them to assess vital signs, apply infection control measures, provide pain reduction measures, and administer medications by all routes.

Part 2: Core Knowledge and Role Development

The second part of this research note explores how nursing programs contribute to learning outcomes related to core knowledge and role development.

Overall, most respondents reported the nursing program taught them to achieve a variety of key learning outcomes related to core knowledge and role development.

More than 65% of respondents indicated the nursing program taught them to apply an ethical decision-making framework to clinical situations and incorporate nursing standards into practice. Respondents who entered the nursing program with four or more years of healthcare experience were more likely than other respondents to indicate the nursing program taught them key core knowledge and role development outcomes.

Significant and important differences exist by the type of degree program with respondents in accelerated programs assessing their programs more negatively.

1. Nursing programs teach students core knowledge in nursing.

   • At least 65% of respondents reported the nursing program taught them to apply an ethical, decision-making framework to clinical situations and to assess predictive factors that influence the health of patients.
   • More than six out of ten respondents reported the nursing program taught them to use appropriate technologies to assess patients, communicate with healthcare professionals to deliver high-quality patient care, and understand the effects of health policies on diverse populations.

2. Nursing programs teach students about role development, such as incorporating nursing standards into practice and delegating nursing care while retaining accountability.

   • More than 60% of respondents indicated the nursing program taught them to incorporate nursing standards into practice, integrate theory to develop a foundation for practice, and delegate nursing care while retaining accountability.
   • The majority of respondents reported the nursing program taught them to value the ideal of lifelong learning to support excellence in nursing practice.

3. Overall, previous experience in healthcare impacts the degree to which students indicate the nursing program teaches the key core knowledge and role development outcomes.

   • Respondents with four or more years of previous healthcare experience were significantly more likely than other respondents to report the nursing program taught them to understand the effects of healthcare policies on diverse populations, assist patients to achieve a peaceful end of life, understand how healthcare delivery systems are organized, understand the global healthcare environment, and incorporate knowledge of cost factors when delivering care.
   • Respondents with four or more years of healthcare experience were significantly more likely than other respondents to indicate the nursing program taught them to integrate theory to develop a foundation for practice, delegate nursing care while retaining accountability, value the ideal of lifelong learning to support excellence in nursing practice, and to integrate theories and concepts from liberal education into nursing practice.

4. Significant and important differences exist between degree programs related to learning outcomes.

   • Significantly fewer respondents in accelerated programs indicated their program taught them learning outcomes related to core knowledge and role development.
   • Respondents in RN Completion programs were most likely to indicate their nursing program taught them core knowledge and role development outcomes.

Conclusion

Part 1: Professional Values, Core Competencies, and Technical Skills

Most respondents indicated their nursing programs taught them learning outcomes related to professional values, core competencies, and technical skills.

Few important differences exist when comparing the respondents by previous experience working in health care.

Many important differences exist between types of nursing degree programs.

Part 2: Core Knowledge and Role Development

Most respondents indicated their nursing programs had taught them about learning outcomes in core knowledge and role development.

Years of previous experience in healthcare was related to the extent to which students thought their nursing program had taught them core knowledge and role development.

Many significant and important differences exist between the types of nursing degree programs, with respondents in accelerated programs being the least likely to indicate their program taught them their core knowledge and role development.

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