Designing Simulation Scenarios to Support Performance Assessment Validity

Abstract

This article advances and demonstrates a validation process to guide the development of health care simulation scenarios for assessing performance competency. The development and evaluation of each scenario used in a simulation-based competency assessment must be based on multiple sources of evidence that support the validity of the assessment for its intended use. Procedures are proposed to optimize the validity of simulation-based assessments by linking the scenario directly to the instrument and using a systematic approach for gathering and processing input from experts in the field. This validation process is then applied to the development of an original scenario for use in an assessment of nursing competency that targets objectives through patient simulation scenarios scored by multiple raters.