How organisational processes influence assessors’ experiences of marginal students’ performances in clinical assessments

Abstract

BackgroundCompetence assessment has become the accepted modality of assessing practice based disciplines, such as nursing. However, assessment of clinical competence remains a challenge for assessors. AimThis study sought to describe assessors’ experiences of grading undergraduate students’ performances in clinical courses when that performance is marginal; not a clear pass or fail. MethodsFourteen semi-structured interviews and two focus groups were undertaken with university employed assessors from a pre-registration bachelor of nursing programme at a multi-campus Australian university. FindingsThematic analysis identified two distinct theme themes from the textual data: ‘human influences’ and ‘organisational processes’. The first theme of human influences was reported elsewhere. ‘Organisational processes’, including three emerging themes:time demands and pressures; assessment processes and learning and teaching practices, were identified as key impacts on assessors’ experiences of grading student clinical performances and is addressed in this paper. The impact of organisational policies and processes on the assessor around workload, teaching and learning practices and assessment processes were significant to assessors. DiscussionTertiary assessment processes were found to significantly influence, both in a positive and negative manner, assessors’ experiences of grading student performances in clinical courses. Provision of a holistic approach to clinical assessment that includes robust assessor support measures should be developed and implemented to enhance student success and assist assessors to meet their professional responsibilities. ConclusionTertiary institutions play a key role in supporting effective and meaningful assessment of clinical programme components. Through understanding the significance of the organisations’ role, key stakeholders can start to examine and enact measures to bolster the enabling factors and reduce the barriers to assessing student performances that are not a clear pass or fail.