An Innovative Educational Trio for Physical Assessment in an Undergraduate Nursing Course.

ABSTRACT: Effective teaching methods are critical to the acquisition of physical assessment skills. This article describes the combined use of deliberate practice, standardized patient simulation, and peer evaluation in improving physical assessment skills among first-semester nursing students. Students prepared for a physical assessment check-off by using deliberate practice throughout the semester; they then received peer feedback after a standardized patient simulation. Students felt the integrated experience improved their physical assessment performance. Incorporating this innovative educational trio can provide opportunities for physical assessment skill enhancement.