Measurement of Nursing Program Outcomes: Moving Forward with Rubric Development in Portfolio Assessment

Identifying undergraduate nursing program outcomes to be attained by students is a critical task of any nursing program.  The demonstration of the attainment of curricular outcomes is mandated by accreditation bodies and nurse educators need to be supported by evidenced based practice in this challenging endeavor.  Faculty must determine what students have learned; how they have changed academically, professionally, and personally; and if program outcomes were met as they complete the nursing program. The portfolio assessment process at one Midwestern School of Nursing was moved from mid program to end of program coinciding with the full implementation of a new undergraduate curriculum including new terminal program outcomes geared to meet the Essentials of Baccalaureate Education. Prior to this change, benchmarks in portfolio assessment were consistently met. However, after the move to end of program with new terminal outcomes, portfolio scores have declined and failed to meet the benchmark. This presentation will describe actions taken and changes made to the portfolio assessment process in efforts to accurately assess program outcomes including the importance of developing a rubric that coincided with the new program outcomes.  Specifics related to portfolio assessment and rubric development will be highlighted in this presentation and offer nurse educators tangible evidence of how to assess the meeting of program outcomes.