Early Immersion Clinical for an Accelerated BSN Nursing Program

Abstract

Ensuring clinical competency and judgment in nursing students is critical. Developing ways for students to obtain this goal in a second-degree bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) program is challenging. One method described here is the early immersion clinical (EIC). Occurring concurrently with health assessment and fundamentals courses, EIC allowed for quick application of skills in the context of clinical care. Weekly clinical objectives were aligned with objectives for both courses. This article describes how EIC was implemented in a 12-month second-degree accelerated BSN program.

Clinical Judgment Development and Assessment in Clinical Nursing Education

“…15 The NCSBN model guides development of the Next Generation NCLEX-RN licensure examination, for improved assessment of NGN readiness for safe practice. 16,17 The American Association of Colleges of Nursing's (AACN's) new The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education (The Essentials) presents an academic model for consistent outcome achievement among NGNs. 8 The Essentials 8 identify CJ as the first of 6 core concepts threaded throughout 10 domains for nursing practice.…”

“…Recognizing the critical role of nurses' CJ in delivery of safe, effective care, the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) built upon Tanner's work and other CJ models to develop a multilayer CJM that incorporates observation, cognitive processes, and environmental and individual contexts to address client needs and clinical decisions 15. The NCSBN model guides development of the Next Generation NCLEX-RN licensure examination, for improved assessment of NGN readiness for safe practice 16,17…”