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Kent State University Outcome Assessment There exists a variety of means by which nursing students' academic achievement is evaluated. First of all, a selective admission process is used for acceptance of students into the nursing major, thereby establishing a predetermined academic performance level. Admission criteria require a 2.7 GPA, ACT composite score of 22 with 22 in scientific reasoning. As a result there is a minimal attrition from the program due to academic failure despite an academically challenging curriculum. In 1991 the National League for Nursing Council of Baccalaureate and Higher Degree Programs, the accrediting body for nursing, adopted new criteria. Included within these criteria are five (5) outcome criteria required of every accredited program and in addition, two( 2) outcome criteria to be selected by each program from a list of eight (8). The five required outcome criteria area:
A means of assessment for each of these 7 items is in place within the School of Nursing. As part of our current self study in preparation for reaccreditation by NLN in Spring, 1994, a committee of nursing faculty are currently conducting a comprehensive evaluation and analysis of data for each of these criteria. The School of Nursing has long valued the need for assessment of outcomes. Even before the establishment of the accreditation criteria, the School was engaged in various evaluative measures of outcome. The Program Evaluation Plan of the School calls for several outcome measure. Data are gathered from survey of alumni at 1 and 5 years post graduation and annually from employers. These data address graduate job performance, leadership ability, professional development scholarship endeavors, further education, etc. Program satisfaction is also a part of this survey. Success rates on N-CLEX (the national examination for registered nurse licensure) is closely monitored. The mean score for Kent State University graduate on this examination has consistently been above the state and national means and is traditionally in the 94-97% pass rate range. Graduates of Kent State University School of Nursing are highly sought after and employment is 100% upon graduation from both the baccalaureate and masters programs. More Evaluation of Instruction Instructional evaluation occurs on a regular, every semester basis in the School of Nursing using a multifaceted approach. At the end of every course, students complete a course evaluation which includes a section for evaluation of each faculty member in the course. A copy of results is shared with the individual faculty member early in the next semester. These evaluations are reviewed by School administrative personnel, program directors and course chairs and used to assist faculty in enhancing their teaching skills and focusing on improvement of any areas of weakness which may be identified. For all tenure track faculty student evaluation summaries of all courses taught are to be include in review materials, are carefully examined, and recommendations offered as a result. For all term faculty, annual review of teaching performance similar to that for tenure track faculty, is conducted by the School Advisory Committee. Peer review of teaching performance is encouraged and is frequently included in the review |