The Journal of Medical Education and Development

In recent years, there has been increased attention to performance-based assessment methods in nursing education, particularly tools that enhance learning in the real-world context of care by providing immediate feedback. The intensive care unit is an ideal environment for the use of direct observation tools due to the complexity of the conditions and the need for rapid decision-making.  One effective tool in this area is the Brief Clinical Assessment Exercise; a short-term, formative tool that assesses students' performance in a real clinical setting with feedback, and studies have shown it to be effective in improving clinical skills, self-confidence, and professional thinking.