CLINICAL JUDGMENT, ROLE ADJUSTMENT AND CAREER ORIENTATION IN BACCALAUREATE GRADUATES OF A UNIFICATION MODEL NURSING PROGRAM.
Contributors: University of Rochester.
Published: 1984
Number of pages: 129
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: The organizational integration of nursing education, practice and research known as the "unification model" has received strong support from nursing leaders in recent years. According to proponents of the concept, its implementation can be expected to produce a positive impact upon both process and outcomes of student education.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate baccalaureate graduates of a representative unification model nursing program, within one year of graduation, in terms of their clinical judgment, adjustment to the practitioner role, and career orientation to nursing as a profession. These three areas of evaluation were derived from a review of the literature on unification relating to its anticipated effects upon graduates educated within the model.

The following methods were employed in the evaluation: (1) measurement of group performance on the research instruments against an optimal score for each instrument: Nursing Performance Simulation Instrument (Gover, 1971), Six-Dimension Scale of Nursing Performance (Schwirian, 1978), and Career Orientation Questionnaire (designed for this study); (2) comparison of group performance with that of a similar group of neophyte nurses from non-unification model baccalaureate programs; (3) correlation of group self-ratings on the Six-Dimension Scale of Nursing Performance with supervisor ratings on the same instrument, using graduate/supervisor congruence as an indicator of role adjustment.

The unification model group came within one point of the optimal score for the clinical judgment measure, the Nursing Performance Simulation Instrument. As for role adjustment, on the Six-Dimension Scale of Nursing Performance, graduate self-ratings were slightly higher than concomitant supervisor ratings but the difference was not statistically significant. The correlation between self-assessment and supervisor assessment on the same instrument indicated positive role adjustment with a Pearson r of .4079 (p = .024). Finally the study group scored well on the Career Orientation Questionnaire: individual items revealed that all these subjects are credentialled and employed as Registered Nurses, 97% would still choose nursing as a career, and 86% have definitive career plans within nursing.

In overall scores on the three instruments, there were no significant differences between the study group and the comparison group. Although a clear endorsement of unification model over traditional model education is, therefore, not supported by the data, the performance of these unification model graduates does demonstrate attainment of anticipated program outcomes.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 45-12, Section: B, page: 3771.

Thesis (ED.D.)--THE UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER, 1984.

School code: 0188.