Review pass rates. Upon graduating from a nursing program, students take the National Licensing Exam (NCLEX). While the individual pass rate is based on each graduate's score, the school obtains its pass rates from all of its graduates. If 98 percent of the graduates passed the first time, the nursing program will have a 98-percent pass rate. Using pass rates as an evaluation tool for nursing education can be effective since how well graduates do on the test is dependent on how well they were taught and prepared for the nursing profession.
Conduct student evaluations. Providing students with the opportunity to evaluate their nursing instructors can be beneficial. Using this type of evaluation, administrators are able to gain insight into the rapport an instructor has with students. This often answers the qualitative questions that can't be answered by statistics -- questions involving fairness, communication and willingness to help students learn. Negative feedback from students could indicate an instructor using ineffective teaching methods, while positive feedback indicates a successful teacher who has good rapport with students.
Observe. Administrators have the opportunity to sit in and observe nursing instructors as they conduct their classes. This allows the administer to experience first-hand what an instructor is teaching and what the environment in the classroom is like. Classroom observations are particularly beneficial when evaluating new nursing instructors since the administrator can provide insight and observations that help the teacher become more effective and successful.
Check job placement rates. Success in nursing education can also be evaluated by job placement rates. A high number or percentage of students finding a job in their field within six months or one year after graduation shows they have the skills and knowledge required for the workplace.