Objective structured clinical examinations as summative examinations for assessing clinical readiness: Perspectives of entry-level nursing students

Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE) at the College of New Caledonia are used as a summative, high-stakes evaluation before entering the clinical setting to ensure the Year 2 Bachelor of Science (BSc) Nursing students have obtained the required knowledge and skills required to interact with patient populations in acute care. This mixed-methods survey design study documents the student experiences while addressing whether a high-stakes OSCE is an appropriate summative evaluation method to assess clinical readiness and whether the passing or failing of an OSCE is predictive of overall clinical success. Students described the high-stakes OSCE experience as negative and highly stressful. They do not find them relevant or valuable in aiding their clinical practice. However, when used appropriately, OSCEs remain the best testing method for health science disciplines. Based on the findings of this study, improvements should be made to the examination process for implementation, adjudication, and feedback components to align with existing literature.