Explores the origins of clinical competence assessment in nursing education and reviews two British research projects. Finds little evidence of systematic approaches to competence assessment and no evidence of instrument reliability and validity. Expresses concern that it poses a barrier to the education of nurses. (SK)

Literature review and interviews with nine public health and nursing education informants in Britain indicated that, although National Health Service policy highlights public health, clinical placements in this area are limited and curriculum content needs to be applicable to public health. Needs assessments show skills gaps in practicing nurses…

A peer supervision program for mental health nursing lecturers was implemented to help them develop new skills, avoid isolation, and enhance teamwork. Participants found it had supportive value and enhanced problem solving. Issues included distinguishing between counseling and supervising, potential of supervision to become management control, and…

A considerable number of students undertaking pre-registration nurse education in the UK are international students from Zimbabwe. The traditional strength of nursing education in Zimbabwe itself has been the large labour pool available for recruitment into the programmes. However, the numbers of recruits to UK nursing courses from Zimbabwe…

A British university's curriculum model for master's and postgraduate diploma nursing education is characterized by structured collaboration among students, clinical mentors, and academic supervisors. A professional development portfolio individualizes the program and facilitates autonomous learning. (Contains 21 references.) (SK)

In health care education a balance needs to be struck between theoretical and practical teaching. Undergraduates typically split their time between clinical placement and university-based teaching blocks. A proportion of the time spent in preparation for clinical practice placements will be spent in the classroom or in simulation suites. The…

Comparison of the perceptions of 55 student nurses whose curriculum emphasized academics over clinical practice with those of 39 in a revised curriculum emphasizing theory-practice links found only modest evidence that the newer curriculum improved student perceptions of their preparation for clinical placement. (SK)

The training and education of doctors is a complex process. The traditional apprenticeship model of clinical medical education following a pre-clinical sciences curriculum had many strengths and produced a doctor who met the needs of several generations of patients. More recently, medical training has been criticised for not adapting to the more…

Objective: In the United Kingdom (UK), an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) has replaced the individual patient assessment (IPA) for part 1 of the membership examination of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (MRCPsych). The authors' assessment of the OSCE was conducted. Method: Residents completed and evaluated an OSCE designed…

The current emphasis in medical education is on engaging learners in deep processing of information to achieve better understanding of the subject matter. Traditional approaches aimed for memorization of medical facts; however, a good memory for medical facts is still essential in clinical practice. This study demonstrates that deep information…

Paper uses a British research project on training and career development for postgraduate doctors to analyze and compare the training of doctors in hospitals with preservice teachers in schools. The comparison underlines conceptions of medicine and teaching as practical activities, emphasizing the importance of hands-on experience and field…

A study examined structures, processes, and practices of assessing competence in nursing and midwifery education programs in Britain. The methodology included documentation, interviews, and observations. Most interviewees were clear about the shortcomings of traditional assessment. In a satisfactory partnership, all the partners made a significant…

The history, status, problems, and prospects of postgraduate medical training for primary care practice in the United Kingdom are reviewed in order to provide insight for American medical educators. The British emphasis on hospital-based training is questioned, but is seen as less of a problem for Americans. (Author/JMD)

OSCE examinations were held in May and June 2002 for all third and fourth year and some fifth year medical students at the University of Leeds. There has been an arbitrary pass mark of 65% for these examinations. However, we recognise that it is important to adopt a systematic approach towards standard setting in all examinations so held a trial…

In a time of high demand for qualified nurses, mass education has become the norm. This is a necessary constraint within which we have to learn to function. However, the need to educate large numbers of nurses may lead to a one-sided unimaginative reliance on the traditional lecture method, creating a learning environment that inadvertently limits…