Clinical Placement ePortfolio

Abstract

The Clinical Placement e-Portfolio Tool was trialled for students on clinical placement during the final placement for the Masters of Nursing program in the School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences. Currently, the evidence students collect whilst on clinical placement (summative assessments, objectives, attendance and achievement of competencies) are submitted via email, hard copy or a MyUni assignment. These documents are not located in one area and therefore it is time consuming to locate them and an overall picture of where the student is at in regards to competencies that may span the length of the program is not easily determined. The Clinical Placement e-Portfolio Tool allowed students to collect and upload evidence whilst physically on placement as well as safely store competency documentation required to be shown to placement providers such as CPR, drug calculations and immunisation. Additionally, this tool supported formative assessment through ongoing feedback and collaboration. Academic staff are easily able to contribute to ongoing feedback and effective formative assessment. Such a tool includes the provision of a location for students to accumulate evidence for professional registration requirements and to support achievement of professional competencies. Students are then able to export this information for their permanent records upon graduation.