The Impact of Collaborative Testing in Graduate Nursing Education

Background: Collaborative testing is an educational strategy that allows students to work in teams when completing an examination. Method: Twenty-eight family nurse practitioner students took four course examinations individually and collaboratively. Five comprehensive questions were included on the fourth examination. A survey was administered at the end of the course, with permission. Results: All collaborative test scores were higher than the traditional test scores (traditional mean range = 80.78 [8.53] to 84.07 [7.41], collaborative mean range = 93.54 [3.77] to 94.07 [2.80], all p values < .001). Students did not demonstrate significant changes in mean scores for cumulative content on test four. Directed content analysis revealed four themes: Enhanced Understanding of Content, Collaboration With Classmates, Socialization, and Improved Grades. Conclusion: In graduate nursing education, collaborative testing may be an effective strategy to improve teamwork and communication skills, enrich relationships, and enhance critical thinking.