A Collaboration to Validate a Competency-Based Evaluation Tool of NP Student Simulation Performance

Abstract : This presentation describes the concept of simulation as a competency-based assessment and describes the novel Nurse Practitioner Student Competency Assessment (NPSCA) instrument that measures American Association of Colleges of Nursing Domain Two Person-Centered Care competencies (AACN, 2021) and National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties Role Core Competencies, (NONPF, 2022).
With the publication of the 2021 AACN Essentials (2021), nursing education shifted to CBE which standardizes educational outcomes across academic programs and promotes consistency in NP graduates. CBE requires meaningful, positive, and empowering learning experiences that yield timely, relevant, and actionable evidence. However, there is a lack of psychometrically sound instruments that measure NP competencies (Nye, 2021).
Simulation experts from NONPF and the International Nursing Association of Clinical Simulation in Learning (INACSL) used a backward design process to design the NPSCA. After establishing content validity, a mixed methods study was conducted to assess construct validity, to provide support for reliability, and usability. Faculty from four NP programs were recruited to view simulation videos of a simple, single disease case based on the Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best PracticeTM (INACSL Standards Committee, 2021). Faculty ratings and qualitative focus group data is currently being analyzed and will be used for further tool refinement. The NPSCA will undergo additional testing after refinement in the simulation and clinical setting.
The development of the NPSCA represents a significant advancement in NP education and has potential to revolutionize the assessment of NP competencies.