Clinical Competencies and Outcomes
Clinical competence in the Practical Nursing program is guided by the TCSG (Technical College Systems of Georgia) and is assessed using the program’s Clinical Evaluation Tool. This tool outlines the behaviors and competencies nursing students are expected to demonstrate in the clinical setting across multiple domains of nursing practice.
The following competency areas are evaluated:
Knowledge for Nursing Practice
- Applies nursing science and clinical reasoning; integrates knowledge from various disciplines; demonstrates intellectual curiosity and ethical decision-making.
Person-Centered Care
- Delivers empathetic, compassionate care; conducts accurate health assessments; engages patients in individualized care planning; incorporates evidence-based practices and promotes self-care.
Quality and Safety
- Implements evidence-based processes; recognizes and mitigates safety risks; reports unsafe conditions and practices accountability at the point of care.
Interprofessional Partnerships & Professionalism
- Collaborates with healthcare teams; communicates professionally; demonstrates ethical comportment, confidentiality, and regulatory compliance; upholds nursing scope of practice and civility standards.
Informatics and Healthcare Technologies
- Uses electronic communication and documentation tools effectively; demonstrates legal and appropriate use of healthcare technologies, including social media and information systems.
Grading Methodology
Evaluation focuses on the student’s ability to apply the nursing process in clinical practice. The evaluation tool assesses the student’s progression toward each clinical competency. Anecdotal records from faculty observations serve as key documentation for performance evaluation.
Clinical Grading Criteria
Students are evaluated both formatively and summatively. The summative clinical evaluation accounts for 20% of the student’s final course grade.
Clinical competencies are rated as Satisfactory (S), Needs Improvement (N) (formative only), or Unsatisfactory (U). Items marked as Not Applicable (N/A) will not negatively affect the student's grade.