Premium
Peer evaluation in nurses’ professional development: a pilot study to investigate the issues
Author(s) -
Vuorinen Riitta,
Tarkka MarjaTerttu,
Meretoja Riitta
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of clinical nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.94
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1365-2702
pISSN - 0962-1067
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2702.2000.00353.x
Subject(s) - feeling , professional development , peer review , peer support , psychology , personal development , set (abstract data type) , action (physics) , qualitative research , content analysis , nursing , work (physics) , medical education , career development , medicine , pedagogy , social psychology , sociology , computer science , social science , mechanical engineering , physics , quantum mechanics , political science , law , psychotherapist , programming language , engineering
• Peer evaluation in nursing is a method by which the nurse evaluates the work of a peer, according to set evaluation criteria. • The aim of the study was to clarify the potential significance of peer evaluation with regard to nurses’ career development and relates to the introduction of a career development programme for nurses in a Finnish University Hospital. • The research concepts were created on the basis of literature analysis. The concepts served as a basis for data collection, and five open‐ended questions were devised from them. Informants ( n = 24) gave free‐form essay‐type answers to these questions. The material was analysed using qualitative content analysis. • The results indicate that self‐evaluation constitutes the basis for peer evaluation. Peer evaluation allows nurses to give and receive professional and personal support promoting professional development. Professional support offers possibilities for change and alternative action. Personal support requires respect for the peer’s equality and individuality. Personal peer support can decrease feelings of uncertainty and insecurity caused by work. • The conclusion is drawn that peer evaluation is a means of promoting nurses’ professional development to further on‐the‐job learning in collaboration with peers.