Therapeutic Comm Q 30
An instructor is correcting a nursing student’s clinical worksheet. Which instructor statement is the best example of effective feedback?
A. "Why did you use the client's name on your clinical worksheet?"
B. "You were very careless to refer to your client by name on your clinical worksheet."
C. "Surely you didn't do this deliberately, but you breached confidentiality by using the client's name."
D. "It is disappointing that after being told, you're still using client names on your worksheet."
Correct Answer: C. “Surely you didn’t do this deliberately, but you breached confidentiality by using the client’s name.”
The instructor’s statement, “Surely you didn’t do this deliberately, but you breached confidentiality by using the client’s name.” is an example of effective feedback. Feedback is a method of communication to help others consider a modification of behavior. Feedback should be descriptive, specific, and directed toward behavior that the person has the capacity to modify and should impart information rather than offer advice or criticize the individual.
Option A: Some students need to be nudged to achieve at a higher level and others need to be handled very gently so as not to discourage learning and damage self-esteem. A balance between not wanting to hurt a student’s feelings and providing proper encouragement is essential.
Option B: When feedback is predominantly negative, studies have shown that it can discourage student effort and achievement (Hattie & Timperley, 2007, Dinham). A teacher has the distinct responsibility to nurture a student’s learning and to provide feedback in such a manner that the student does not leave feeling defeated.
Option D: Providing feedback means giving students an explanation of what they are doing correctly and incorrectly. However, the focus of the feedback should be based essentially on what the students are doing right. It is most productive to a student’s learning when they are provided with an explanation and example as to what is accurate and inaccurate about their work.