This week’s journal club research article investigates the reliability of two types of assessment rubrics. It also examines the validity of these rubrics used in nursing education simulations: scenario-specific and generic rubrics.

Journal Club Article: Luctkar-Flude, M., Tregunno, D., Sears, K., Pulling, C., Lee, K., & Egan, R. (2020). Reliability and validity of scenario-specific versus generic simulation assessment rubrics. Journal of Nursing Education and Practice, 10(8), 74-78.

The study examines how effective they are in evaluating nursing students’ performance in deteriorating patient scenarios. It also explores the preferences of learners and instructors. The findings suggest that while both types of rubrics demonstrate good inter-rater reliability, scenario-specific rubrics are generally preferred by students. These rubrics are helpful in identifying knowledge gaps. They also assist in preparing for simulations. Additionally, instructors found these rubrics more useful for guiding debriefing sessions, indicating their value in enhancing the learning experience.Reliability and validity of scenario-specific versus generic simulation assessment rubrics.

The study concludes that scenario-specific rubrics may be more valuable for pre-simulation preparation and self-assessment. It recommends their integration into simulation design to enhance learning outcomes and assessment quality.

Learner Preferences and Perceptions

• Helpfulness: The majority of students (59%) found the scenario-specific rubric “more helpful to their learning.”
• Ease of Use: A slight majority of students (52%) found the scenario-specific rubric “easier to use.”
• Pre- and Post-Assessment: Use of assessment rubrics was highly acceptable to learners for both pre- (94%) and post- (100%) assessment.