Abstract
M.Cur.
Although clinical evaluation and examination is regarded as the basis of scientifically founded nursing care, it is inherently a subjective process. This process is complicated by the variability of four inter-related systems, namely the eyaluator, the clinical environment, the student nurse and other individuals. The purpose of the study was the analysis of current evaluation practices and the OSCE and to determine the perception of clinical educational personnel and student nurses in this regard. Consequently a descriptive exploratory survey was done by means of a questionnaire. 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. From the obtained data it appears that clinical evaluation and examination remains, to a certain degree, a subjective process. Preconceptions probably influence human judgement. In spite of the occurrence of identified variables the OSCE appears to be a more acceptable approach to clinical examination than traditional long examination methods.