Background: Other than professor ideas, 360-degree clinical evaluation is used to assess practice of nursing students. This research examines reliability and validity of 360-degree evaluation in nursing students.

Materials and methods: in an evaluation study, 75 students of training in nursing department of Islamic Azad University were selected by census method. Questionnaires were distributed between sample available to nursing students, authorities of wards, clinical nurses and teachers in surgery wards and patients. The results of evaluation were recorded and received objective feedback in suitable environment. Criterion-related validity (correlation of mean mark in clinical courses and theoretical course by evaluation mark of 360-degree), construct validity (evaluation of internal structures) and reliability (determining internal consistency, reliability of observers) were examined.

Results: correlation of 360-degree evaluation with mean of theoretical and clinical mean score was 0.32 (p=0.005) and 0.448 (p=0.001). Correlation between micro tests was significant and correlation of total mark was significant and was stronger than relationship of each part to whole that shows desirable theoretical structure. Reliability of test was calculated by Cronbach's alpha of 0.78. Reliability between evaluators was calculated by variance and Significance level was 0.5.

Conclusion: According to our results, 360-degree evaluation has desirable validity and reliability to assess central abilities in nurses.

Keywords: 360- degree clinical evaluation‚ Validity‚ Reliability.