Open AccessImplementingtheCOPA Model in Nursing Education and Practice Settings:Promoting Competence, Quality Care, and Patient Safety
Author(s) -
Carrie B. Lenburg,
Veronica Abdur-Rahman,
Tammy Spencer,
Susan A. Boyer,
Colleen J. Klein
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
nursing education perspectives
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1943-4685
pISSN - 1536-5026
DOI - 10.5480/1536-5026-32.5.290
Subject(s) - internship , competence (human resources) , nursing , curriculum , patient safety , core competency , medical education , medicine , nurse education , psychology , health care , pedagogy , political science , social psychology , marketing , law , business
The Competency Outcomes and Performance Assessment Model (COPA) prepares learners for effective role performance in the workplace by delineating comprehensive, core clinical behaviors that provide evidence of competence. This article explores the experiences of COPA model implementation in two nursing programs and a statewide nurse internship program. The article describes the challenges and benefits of implementation, discusses the transition from a traditional to an outcomes- and competency-based curriculum, and examines the process of assessment, with a focus on the faculty role. The influences of outcomes-based learning strategies and evaluation on competence, confidence, learning, and practice are discussed. In the statewide internship program, with 10 years of implementation experience in practice environments across the continuum of care, the COPA framework has provided significant benefits for preceptors, new nurse graduates, employers, and patient safety.