Enhancing Health Assessment Skills in Nursing Education Through Structured Practice.

Abstract

Background: Various teaching methodologies traditionally have been integrated into the curriculum design of a health assessment course for prelicensure nursing students. A consistent and repetitive practice method often is lacking to help students develop mastery of health assessment skills.

Method: Concepts of structured practice, a concept rooted in deliberate practice, were integrated into the curriculum of a health assessment course. The course design featured clear objectives, students' comprehension of tasks, repeated attempts to reach desired outcomes, immediate group feedback, and individual guidance.

Results: Students actively engaged in their learning, which promoted the development of mastery in their skills. The structured practice approach offered practice opportunities through formative assessments, real-time laboratory sessions, and self-reflective videos, all aimed at delivering constructive feedback and guiding improvement.

Conclusion: Nursing students can develop their skills through structured practice in a controlled, supportive environment that prioritizes continuous improvement through feedback. [J Nurs Educ. 2025;64(X):XXX-XXX.].