Comprehensive Evaluation Model for Nursing Education

Regular evaluation of training programs helps to ensure effectiveness and relevance.

With a nursing shortage in full swing since the turn of the millenium and a more recent shortage in nursing school faculty, the need for comprehensive evaluation of nursing education programs is urgent. Evaluative models provide guidelines for effective data collection and analysis.

Evaluating a Nursing Education Program in its Academic Community Context

Recently, grants have been made available to evaluate innovative nursing education.

Multiple methods and models of comprehensive evaluation are available for studying the effectiveness of a nursing school with its constituents, often including students, alumni, faculty, employers and community partners. Evaluation may include study of distance-learning effectiveness, nursing curriculum impact or data collection methods. Comprehensive evaluation models should take into account whether care theories are being learned, implemented and used in society.

The Neuman Systems Model

The Neuman Systems Model emphasizes an holistic approach to nursing education.

The Neuman Systems Model of comprehensive nursing education evaluation is a multi-disciplinary approach to measuring nursing education. It specifically integrates physiological, psychological and other concerns as part of patient care. Developed by Dr. Betty Neuman, it emphasizes teaching theory and serves as a system for instructing nursing students.

Stake's Countenance Evaluation Model

Comprehensive evaluation of nursing programs can measure how effectively theory is implemented in clinical settings.

Robert E. Stake's Countenance Evaluation Model supports formal rather than informal evaluation and utilizes judgment and description of the evaluated program. Using the matrix of description and the matrix of judgment, information can be collected and studied. Stake's evaluation model has been seen as a fundamental resource for evaluating complex organizations, particularly academia.

References

• Lavoisier: the Neuman Systems Model
• ERIC: Adaptation of Kirkpatrick's Four Level Model of Training Criteria to Assessment of Learning Outcomes
• NLN Journal: Curriculum Evaluation
• RWJF: Putting Innovations in Nursing Education to the Test
• Open Library: Evaluation of a Nursing Education Program Using Stake's Countenance Evaluation Model

Resources

• NCBI: Comprehensive Evaluation Model for Nursing Education
• Springer Link: Comprehensive Evaluation Model
• A Model of Evaluation Exemplified by Swedish Nursing Education
• Google Books: Evaluation in Distance Education
• Nurse Educator: Optimizing Evaluation of Nursing Education Programs
• Neuman Systems Model