Conceptual frameworks and patterns of nursing curriculum.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Curriculum Development
• Higher Education

Background:

• Baccalaureate nursing programs utilize conceptual frameworks to structure curricula.
• Understanding common curriculum patterns is essential for program evaluation and development.
• Canadian English-speaking generic baccalaureate nursing programs were examined.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify common concepts and curriculum patterns in Canadian baccalaureate nursing programs.
• To analyze the primary and secondary organizers used in nursing curricula.
• To provide a framework for curriculum practice, research, and evaluation.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive study of all 18 English-speaking, generic baccalaureate nursing programs in Canada.
• Identification and analysis of primary and secondary curriculum organizers.
• Categorization of curriculum patterns based on organizing concepts.

Main Results:

• Four primary curriculum organizers were identified: client systems, health-illness, growth and development, and nursing roles.
• Common secondary organizers include the nursing process, growth and development, human needs, and family.
• These organizers are used to sequence courses and structure content within nursing programs.

Conclusions:

• Identifying curriculum organizers offers a practical approach for nursing curriculum design, change, and evaluation.
• The identified organizers can be used with nursing models for effective curriculum structuring.
• Research on conceptual frameworks can benefit from using these primary and secondary organizers to compare nursing curricula.