Development of a student success protocol for undergraduate nursing program students

Abstract

Background: Nursing clinical instructors are tasked with the challenge of ensuring patient safety standards are upheld, while evaluating and supporting learners. The majority of undergraduate nursing students are successful in meeting clinical course outcomes. However, clinical nursing instructors and schools of nursing need tools to identify those students at risk of unsafe practice or underperformance, as well as resources to guide pedagogical practices in order to ensure continued patient safety. Purpose: The purpose of this project was to design a student success protocol to assist clinical nursing instructors in the early recognition and remediation of students who are at risk of clinical failure due to unsafe practices or clinical underperformance. Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted. Next, consultations with key stakeholders explored needs of the institution. Based on the findings of the literature review and the consultations, the student success protocol was developed, including a plan for implementation and evaluation. Results: Consultation meetings and the literature review identified the need for faculty development, in-situ remedial activities, clinical learning contracts and learner handover. The developed student success protocol includes an algorithm of student progression, an associated faculty guidebook with direction on feedback and in-situ remedial activities, and a plan for faculty development. Additional supportive documents, including a student performance plan and post-performance plan summary were also created. Conclusion: The student success protocol was developed from consultation and an investigation of the extant literature, and is intended to meet the needs of faculty members and students in schools of nursing.