114: Appreciative Evaluation SOAP Notes: Bridging Nursing Education and Clinical Practice

Nursing education is evolving to prepare nurses for complex care. To assess the effectiveness of a large university’s nursing programs, the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing (VUSN) Evaluation Committee developed a customized, standardized tool for performance evaluation. The leadership structure within the committee is fluid yet consistent, with the chair serving a three-year term, transitioning from chair-elect to chair and then immediate past chair. An administrative director and coordinator provides organizational consistency, facilitating data collection, analysis, and reviews. This emphasizes collaboration in leadership responsibility and decision making, reflecting a shared governance approach. Adapted from health care, the Subjective-Objective-Assessment-Plan (SOAP) note offers a transparent framework, bridging education and clinical practice. Additionally, the SOAP note promotes shared leadership in analyzing feedback and transforming survey data into actionable plans. To enhance this process, the "Appreciative Evaluation SOAP Note” was introduced, blending standardization with an Appreciative Inquiry mindset focused on organizational strengths, empowering the community to continually improve educational outcomes.

Jessica Walker; Cate Enstrom; Jannyse Tapp; Regina Russell