Introducing human rights and health into a nursing curriculum

The introduction of a module in Health and Human Rights into a Postgraduate diploma curriculum for registered nurses is described.

An important component of nursing programmes in South Africa has been teaching of the principles of ethical practice and relevant ethical codes. A number of factors have contributed to the need to include human rights as an integral component of nursing curricula in South Africa. These include the Bill of Rights in the Constitution of South Africa and the implications thereof for health care delivery, the primary health care approach in the delivery of health care in South Africa, the development and acceptance of Patients' Rights Charters, and the recognition of the role that health professionals played--whether through lack of knowledge and awareness or direct involvement--in the human rights violations in the health sector exposed during the hearings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

An outline of themes covered in the course content is described, together with examples of learning activities and teaching materials. Reflections of the course convenor and students are used to highlight the importance of inclusion of health and human rights as foundational to ethical nursing practice, regardless of the health care setting.