Are you ready for your next Senior? Affective evaluation of FNP performance using standardized geriatric patients

Evaluation of student clinical performance is an expectation of nurse practitioner programs. Finding creative methods to provide affective feedback in a simulated environment is more challenging. Under the auspices of an AEN grant integrating geriatric content into an family nurse practitioner program (FNP) several concept based toolkits were integrated into the curriculum. In an effort to evaluate how well this content was integrated we asked several students to participate in observed structured clinical evaluations (OSCE) based on two distinct subjects, geriatric pharmacology within transitions of care and cognitive assessment in a patient with memory loss. The students completed the OSCE’s prior to the final semester of clinical residency in the FNP program. The standardized patients provided affective feedback to the students regarding their performance while faculty provided clinical feedback. Written evaluations were completed by the students, standardized patients, faculty and staff of the simulation center. Standardized patients provided affective feedback as part of the debriefing which was centered on how the student interacted with them as a geriatric patient. The students responded favorably to the experience and felt as though it prepared them for the FNP residency. Student comments included, “It was helpful to see my bedside manner from the perspective of the patient,”and “This experience was an affirmation of how well I was prepared in the FNP program.” This focused student evaluation including both clinical and affective feedback provides an opportunity for diverse groups of learners to practice together and listen to feedback from the patient’s perspective. Future opportunities include collaborating across the university to include other health disciplines as well as inclusion of the other nursing programs within the school are being explored.