How to Develop Nursing Education Programs
Nursing education today blends the best of the past with the current expectations of care and professionalism. Preventative treatment is still emphasized but nurses also educate patients and their families about proper care once leaving the hospital. Most curriculums include humanities, social and basic sciences, psychology, ethics, nutrition and technology.
- Explain the educational philosophy of the program developers. The goal of the program may be to inspire candidates to become “patient-centered.” Determine what the key concepts of the curriculum will be.
- Determine the number of degrees and degree levels the program will be offering. Designate the number of credits needed to complete each degree.
- Find the minimum grade point average required to receive certification from the course. Write out and describe in detail the competencies the students must demonstrate at each level before they can advance to the next. An example is “Students must complete 30 hours of in-patient care at a hospital and deliver a 10-minute oral presentation to receive credit for Nursing Field Work Level One.”
- Write broad statements describing the learning objectives for students. Describe specific outcomes.
- Choose courses that fall under the headings of nursing theory, clinical practice and leadership. Beginning classes should be together, under nursing theory, while more advanced classes should be under leadership. Decide on the content of each course and how it relates to the program’s philosophy.
- Make honors classes available for students who maintain a particular grade point average. Consider honors classes in fields like family planning, mental health, surgical care and management.
- Plan learning activities and assessment strategies for each course. Students may be required to observe professional nurses at work, keep journals of the events and prepare a report explaining what they learn from the experience.