Élaboration et mise à l’essai d’un suivi personnalisé pour des étudiantes finissantes d’un programme de soins infirmiers se préparant à l’examen professionnel
Nursing colleges students or undergraduate of nursing programs must pass the professional examination of the Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec to obtain the right to practice as a nurse (OIIQ, 2016a). Exam failures may be associated with inadequate individual preparation from graduates due to various academic, cognitive, psychological, social, and situational factors. The literature suggests assisting graduates in the process of personal preparation for the exam by intervening with them in a personalized manner to meet their needs (Anderson, 2007; Corrigan-Magaldi et al., 2014). Literature also points out that the strategies used must focus on effective anxiety management, development of effective examination skills and adequate knowledge base (McDowell, 2008). The purpose of this project was to develop and test a personalized monitoring of preparation for nursing college students who anticipate difficulties when taking the professional exam. The accompanying intervention included various stages: assessment of the graduates’ needs, co-construction of an individualized preparation plan to meet those needs, follow-ups with the students in carrying out the plan, and assessment of their perceptions of anticipated difficulties. Peplau's (1992) Interpersonal Relationship Theory and McDowell's Performance Strategy Model Knowledge Base, Anxiety Control, Test-Taking Skills (KATTS; 2008) was the framework for the accompanying intervention. Participants identified a variety of needs during the accompanying intervention such as anxiety management, study organization, test-taking skills strategies, and resources to support preparation for the professional examination. The participants indicated that their individual needs related to the preparation for the professional examination were well targeted and that the co-constructed individualized preparation plan was able to meet those needs. They suggest the accompanying intervention should be offered to future students.
Nursing students Preparation for the professional exam Support intervention