The spring 2012 edition of RCN student journal features Dr Janet Scammell discussing the pros and cons of placement grading.
BU has graded nursing students’ performance since 2007 and uses the grades to contribute to their final grades. Both students and mentors have found the system useful and other universities are now starting to use the same system.
Dr Scammell, comments “we felt the usual system of pass or fail provided limited feedback to students about how well or poorly they have performed and that was the rationale for change.”
The system works by using a five-point scoring system, each score is associated with a percentage range and the level achieved links in with the competencies required by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
Second year nursing student at BU, Kathleen Butler, says “getting graded highlights which areas you fall down on, but also where you excel. With a pass or fail system, you don’t know whether you’re just scraping by.”
Dr Scammell continues “it would be good if there was a unified system of assessing placement performance across all universities in the UK.”
The placement grading system at BU has been evaluated positively with the system evolving in response to student and mentor feedback since it was introduced.
To add your thoughts on placement grading, join the debate on the RCN’s message board at https://www.rcn.org.uk/discussion_zone
