Classroom instruction includes the theoretical foundations of nursing, disease management, assessment and intervention, and role expectations. Instructors assign tests, presentations, group projects and research papers to measure a student's academic performance.
The primary objective of measuring clinical performance in nursing education is to ensure students can provide safe care. Core competencies are evaluated in a real-world setting, usually alongside a licensed nurse who serves as a guide and a mentor. The development of critical-thinking skills is one of the most important learning objectives of clinical performance.
Registered nursing jobs are expected to increase 22 percent between 2008 and 2018, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That rate is significantly higher than the average growth rate for other careers. Median annual wages for this profession were $62,450 in May 2008.