Changes in nurse education: delivering the curriculum.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Healthcare Faculty Studies
• Curriculum Development

Background:

• Pre-registration nursing education is undergoing transformation.
• Understanding these changes requires insights from experienced nurse educators.
• The dynamic nature of nursing practice impacts educational models.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore changes in pre-registration nursing education from the perspective of nurse teachers.
• To identify key shifts in the nursing profession and their educational implications.
• To analyze the effects of increased student cohort sizes on traditional teaching methods.

Main Methods:

• Conducted 37 in-depth interviews with nurse teachers in a London Healthcare Faculty.
• Employed content analysis, as described by Miles and Huberman, for interview data.
• Data collection occurred between August 2003 and March 2004, totaling 34.4 hours of interviews.

Main Results:

• Participants identified three primary areas of change: the nature of nursing, selection criteria for future nurses, and the impact of large cohorts on person-centered education.
• The study highlights that the nursing role should be the defining factor for the curriculum.
• Practice placements remain a critical component of nursing education.

Conclusions:

• Nursing education must adapt to the evolving demands of the profession.
• Curriculum design should prioritize the core nursing role and values.
• Higher education institutions need to support the identity of the nursing profession within their educational frameworks.