Midterm & Final Evaluations

The midterm and final evaluation will be completed by the professional practice instructor and the student at two scheduled times (see Professional Practice Learning Plan dates).

Students and instructors are expected to complete and discuss a professional practice evaluation tool at midterm, to identify progress in meeting the course objectives and at the end of term, to identify if the student has met the course objectives. Students are expected to evaluate themselves and instructors are expected to evaluate each student according to the following College of Nurses (CNO) competency categories on the Professional Practice Evaluation Tool:

• Professional Practice
• Ethical Practice
• Legal Practice
• Foundations of Practice
• Collaborative Practice

Under each competency category, there are individual competencies that characteristics of the student’s performance to be evaluated. Each characteristic is evaluated based on the Evaluation Rating Scale outlined at the start of the evaluation tool and a using the comment section. There is an overall competency comment section also available at the end of the form.

Any category with a score of “Not Met” or “Needs Improvement” must be accompanied by documentation in the comments section of the evaluation. Any score of “Meets Expectations” or “Exceeds Expectations” indicates that the student’s performance in this area is satisfactory. The student should work towards maintaining this level of performance in all the Domains of Practice for the remainder of the term. 

MIDTERM: If a student is assigned a NOT MET [NM}* or NEEDS IMPROVEMENT [NI]* rating to a given key characteristic, comments and examples will be provided. If any of the bolded critical element criteria are scored less than ‘Meets Expectations’ (M), the clinical instructor will work with the student to create a Success plan (Appendix A) and will document the plan and progress.

FINAL: Any critical element criterion (bold) scored less than ‘Meets Expectations’ (M) at the final evaluation will result in the student failing the course.

Evaluation of the characteristics is based on a global sense of how the student is progressing; students are required to meet at a minimum the characteristics in bold.

Professional practice performance in practice setting and all course components (e.g., Thinking Like a Nurse worksheet, reflections, learning plans) contribute to and fall under the umbrella of the Professional Practice Evaluation Tool. The student must meet and achieve all expected professional practice objectives to pass the course.

At mid-term and final, the instructor is responsible for meeting with each student individually and reviewing each other’s completed evaluations. The discussion should support each other’s assessments and comments. Instructor and student signs each other’s evaluations. If the student and faculty do not agree with the evaluation, this may be written in the comments section. Student should receive a copy of the signed faculty evaluation and the faculty should have a copy of the signed student evaluation. Both copies are to be uploaded in MyCanvas dropbox by the student.

At midterm, the instructor assigns either a “progressing towards meeting course end in view” or “failing” grade. If students is failing, the student works with the instructor to complete a Success Plan (Appendix A) that will clearly outline what skills/abilities the student must demonstrate by the end of the term to be successful Instructors must submit a Midterm Progress Grade on Canvas for each student. Any students being assigned a ‘failing grade’ at Midterm must have their Success Plans forwarded to the Professional Practice Coordinator.

At the end of term, the instructor assigns a pass or fail grade and must clearly state what course aims/professional practice criteria student(s) did not meet if a failing grade is assigned. The final grade is also a global assessment based on all of the characteristics. While students may be doing better in some areas than others, their final grade is based on how they are performing overall. Instructors must complete the Course Requirements column on Canvas for each student. Any students being assigned a ‘FAIL’ at Final must have their names forwarded to the Professional Practice Coordinator.