A Pilot Study to Implement and Evaluate the Use of Objective Structured Clinical Examinations in an RN to BSN in Nursing Program

• A simulation program for an RN hybrid course is piloted that includes two simulation exercises and objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs).
• Grades and satisfaction are examined.
• Students and faculty reported high satisfaction with simulation.
• Simulation provided faculty with better opportunity to evaluate student progress.
• OSCEs provided faculty with better opportunity to evaluate student learning.

BackgroundThe structure of hybrid programs can lead to inconsistent learning and inability to evaluate student progress. The purpose was to determine whether the use of simulation and objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs) would provide faculty the opportunity to evaluate skill attainment and students learning transfer.MethodTo prepare students for OSCEs, simulation was integrated onto the content in the beginning of the course. At the end of the course, students returned for OSCEs. Student scores were analyzed, and student and/or faculty satisfaction was measured.ResultsOverall, students were able to demonstrate mastery of content within the OSCEs format and student and faculty satisfaction was high.ConclusionOSCEs offer an option for enhanced student learning and evaluation in hybrid RN to bachelor of science in nursing programs.