[Clinical evaluation and the OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Evaluation)].

Although clinical evaluation and examination is regarded as the basis of scientifically founded nursing, it is inherently a subjective process. This process is complicated by the variability of four inter-related systems, namely the evaluator, the clinical environment, the student nurse and other individuals. The purpose of this study was analysis of current evaluative practices and the Objective Structured Clinical Examination; and determination of the perception of clinical educational personnel and student nurses in this regard. Consequently a descriptive exploratory survey was done by means of questionnaires. For the purpose of this study, clinical teaching personnel and student nurses associated with the nine affiliated hospitals of one nursing college in the Transvaal were approached to participate in the study.