Evaluating competency based education modules in an online nurse practitioner course

Abstract

Competency based education (CBE) has been shown to improve academic performance and could help bridge the gap between education and clinical practice. There is a lack of evaluation data for new content added to courses, particularly CBEs and new technology. The aim of the study was to evaluate the use of CBE modules and GoReact technology in an online psychiatric nurse practitioner course. In a quality improvement study, four CBE modules were used to assess knowledge and clinical skills in an online psychiatric assessment course. Knowledge tests were used to assess student knowledge, adaptations of the Student Evaluation of Educational Quality Scale (SEEQ) and the Systems Usability Scale (SUS) were used to evaluate the students’ responses to the CBE modules. Faculty feedback and comparisons from prior years without CBEs were also examined. All students in the course successfully completed the CBE modules for course credit. The majority of the students who completed the surveys had a positive response to the CBEs and GoReact technology. Faculty were satisfied with using CBEs and the technology and overall student performance in the course and subsequent practicum course following the CBEs was the same or improved. CBE modules appear to be an effective and well received method of instruction in online clinical psychiatric nurse practitioner courses.