Abstract:
In 1988, Ball State University's School of Nursing developed and tested post graduation questionnaires for both employers and students. This research paper proposes to measure new graduates' satisfaction with the nursing program using the 1988 Longitudinal Study Questionnaire: Graduates, developed by Dillard, Nelson, and Ryan for the School of Nursing at Ball State. Since 1988 the post graduation surveys at the School of Nursing have taken new forms as National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission(1989) standards for students' feedback changed. The latest revisions of the post graduation survey for students bear little resemblance to the 1988 questionnaire. To facilitate comparison to the 1988 data, the 1988 questionnaire will only be changed to reflect changes in course numbers and names.Graduates of schools of nursing need the right skills to operate in the constantly changing environment of health care. Have changes in the curriculum kept up with changes in the workplace? Competency-based evaluations only define the minimum standards, which are the slowest to change. Employer evaluations tend to rate the individuals' skills of adapting, rather than the strengths and weaknesses of the curriculum. Evaluation of the students' satisfaction will remain the most practical and expedient method for educators to find strengths and weaknesses in the curriculum. A continually improving educational plans benefits the students the most; therefore, student evaluation is best suited to identify program deficits.