Demonstrating evidence-based clinical nursing practice: providing the evidence

Abstract

Our ability to assess practice at degree level is just as crucial as our ability to assess theory. What, it is suggested, differentiates degree-level practice is the intellectual process associated with the practice in question. A key element of the effective assessment of practice is that evidence must be collected from a range of sources. Examples of such sources that have been exploited within a programme of study are discussed, including critical incident analysis, commentary in practice, prescribed specific outcomes, the documentation of care, the observation of practice, written evidence, spontaneous discussions of practice, and extracts from a reflective diary. The process of providing and evaluating the evidence was conducted within a tripartite arrangement involving the practitioner or student, the supervising practitioner and a lecturer. The net result was an overall assessment of the degree of competence.