Nurse Practitioner Student Competency Attainment and Direct Care Clinical Hours: A Pilot Study.
Abstract
Background
The number of direct care clinical hours (DCCH) required in nurse practitioner education lacks empirical evidence.
Purpose
This pilot study established preliminary empirical research examining the DCCH needed to attain the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Essentials Level 2, Domain 2: Person-Centered Care national competencies.
Methods
This quantitative study used the Nurse Practitioner Student Competency Assessment instrument to measure Domain 2 subcompetency attainment. Student and university factors were also analyzed.
Results
Intraclass correlation coefficients suggest university variability may contribute up to 30%. Pilot findings suggested that DCCH, completing the 3Ps (advanced pathophysiology, advanced pharmacology, and advanced health assessment) before clinical placements, and number of clinical sites were positively associated, while higher student-to-faculty ratios were negatively associated with competency attainment.
Conclusion
Addressing measurement implementation and university variability are critical areas of development for the proposed national study. A rater-calibrated study is needed to estimate the relative contribution of DCCH to competency attainment.