Suitable, fit, competent and safe to practice nursing? Assessing nursing students' personal qualities in clinical placement—An integrative review

Abstract

Aims and objectivesThis study aims to explore, describe, and synthesize the personal requirements student nurses are assessed in their clinical placement to be suitable, fit, competent, and safe for the nursing profession.BackgroundThere are different terms and concepts used when describing what nursing students are assessed by regarding personal requirements needed to be eligible to enter the nursing profession. This is regulated and enforced mainly by different standards and guidelines.DesignAn integrative review using Whittmore and Knafl's (2005) methodology.MethodsSearches were systematically conducted in CINAHL, Education Source, ERIC, Academic Source Elite, MEDLINE and EMBASE, NORART, SveMed+, and Bibliotek.dk. The PRISMA checklist for systematic reviews was used.ResultsEighteen studies were included in the review. The results present various factors student nurses are assessed by in clinical placements, which were categorized into three themes: attitude and personal characteristics, behavior, and basic knowledge. Assessing students is a complex and subjective endeavor, and decisions are based on a holistic assessment of several different aspects of the student's performance and behaviorConclusionsThe personal requirements to be deemed suited for det nursing profession are complex and composed of several different components. Assessments are often based more on assessors’ subjective standards and intuition than on the provided guidelines and standards. There is no universal understanding of which characteristics or qualities are considered necessary for a student to be deemed suited for the nursing profession.Relevance to clinical practiceThis study points at challenges with the assessment of nursing students today as there are no clear standards or understanding of the requirements needed.