Evaluation and Testing in Nursing Education

Rating:
Summary: A marvel of philosophical base and practical information.
Review: This book differs from all others on the subject. Evaluation and testing in nursing education has traditionally been presented as an almost mechanical application of rules. Oermann and Gaberson have written a comprehensive practical guide to the subject that is grounded in a nursing-relevant philosophical and ethical understanding of the legitimate teaching and warranting process of testing and evaluation in nursing education, expressed succinctly in the following: "...professional judgments are 'at the heart of' effective evaluations (p.2-3)" and "(R)egardless of the specificity of the standards and criteria used for evaluating learners, evaluation remains a subjective process (p.3)."

Detailed chapters address and illustrate such key topics as writing objective test items, essay test items, written assignments, evaluation of critical thinking, clinical evaluation, scoring and interpreting test scores. Grading is discussed as an issue involving more than merely summing test scores. The often neglected subject of planning, assembling and administering tests is thoroughly discussed. Social, ethical and legal issues are analyzed in relationship to the testing and evaluation functions. The comprehensive scope of this book extends to chapters on program evaluation and total quality management in nursing education.

I have used this text in a graduate course for nurse educators and students are as enthusiastic about the book as I am. I highly recommend its use for faculties and nurse educator graduate courses.

Rating:
Summary: A marvel of philosophical base and practical information.
Review: This book differs from all others on the subject. Evaluation and testing in nursing education has traditionally been presented as an almost mechanical application of rules. Oermann and Gaberson have written a comprehensive practical guide to the subject that is grounded in a nursing-relevant philosophical and ethical understanding of the legitimate teaching and warranting process of testing and evaluation in nursing education, expressed succinctly in the following: "...professional judgments are 'at the heart of' effective evaluations (p.2-3)" and "(R)egardless of the specificity of the standards and criteria used for evaluating learners, evaluation remains a subjective process (p.3)."

Detailed chapters address and illustrate such key topics as writing objective test items, essay test items, written assignments, evaluation of critical thinking, clinical evaluation, scoring and interpreting test scores. Grading is discussed as an issue involving more than merely summing test scores. The often neglected subject of planning, assembling and administering tests is thoroughly discussed. Social, ethical and legal issues are analyzed in relationship to the testing and evaluation functions. The comprehensive scope of this book extends to chapters on program evaluation and total quality management in nursing education.

I have used this text in a graduate course for nurse educators and students are as enthusiastic about the book as I am. I highly recommend its use for faculties and nurse educator graduate courses.