Evaluation of Undergraduate Nursing Students’ Clinical Competence Using a Mental Health Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)

This follow-up study was conducted to establish the preliminary psychometrics of a 12-station mental health Objective Structure Clinical Examination (OSCE). Knowledge is limited regarding OSCE use in undergraduate mental health nursing education. A convenience sample of 63 second-semester junior-level undergraduate nursing students participated. Tools included a demographic and student perceptions questionnaire. Interrater reliability and criterion validity were statistically significant. Students perceived the OSCE as beneficial and challenging. This OSCE was established as a valid, reliable tool that may be used to assess mental health nursing knowledge, skills, and attitudes in combination with existing clinical assessment methods.