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Assessment of graduates and diplomates in practice in the UK – are we measuring the same level of competence?[Note 1. INFORMATION POINT: National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ) ...]
Author(s) -
Girot Elizabeth A.
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.1365-2702.2000.00393.x
Subject(s) - competence (human resources) , general partnership , medical education , psychology , medicine , nursing , pedagogy , political science , social psychology , law
• With the recent proliferation in nursing degree programmes over the last 10 years and a suggestion that nursing moves towards an all‐graduate profession, the profession as well as the consumer needs to be sure that they are getting ‘value added’ with this ‘higher level’ practitioner. • This paper revisits the debate on the meaning of competence in relation to fitness for practice. • In particular it examines the expectations of the profession of newly registered practitioners at both diploma and degree levels of practice. • It questions whether there is a difference in their level of competence at point of registration and whether it is possible to measure it. • The paper presents a reflective approach to promoting ideas already emerging from the literature in relation to this measurement. • It suggests a more effective use of students’ portfolios of evidence against stated learning outcomes as well as their specific achievements in a range of transferable skills. • A partnership approach between student, practitioner/assessor and academic could usefully share responsibilities of the assessment of competence and ultimately empower the individual for their life‐long learning.