The effectiveness of pediatric nurse associates as clinical instructors of medical students.

Pediatric nurse associates (PNAs) have provided health care services for children, taught physical diagnosis to first-year medical students, and acted as role models for students and residents. Their role as clinical instructors has not been measured objectively. This study evaluated the effect of PNA interaction with medical students in a pediatric clerkship. Students taught by PNAs had higher gains in factual knowledge and greater skills in physical examination as measured by a videotape of a patient encounter. The PNAs demonstrated that they can be effective instructors of medical students.