Open Wide and Say A-Ha: Adding Oral Health Content to the Nurse Practitioner Curriculum

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Oral Health Integration
• Interprofessional Education

Background:

• Nurse practitioner (NP) curricula often lack comprehensive oral health content.
• Aligning NP programs with National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties competencies highlighted this deficiency.
• Existing faculty lacked the specialized knowledge to effectively teach oral health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the process of integrating oral health content into an NP curriculum.
• To share experiences and strategies for enhancing NP education in oral health.
• To document the adaptation of teaching methodologies based on this integration.

Main Methods:

• Collaborated with dental school faculty to deliver oral health education.
• Implemented the STAR Legacy Cycle model for curriculum delivery.
• Applied principles of the How People Learn theory to teaching practices.

Main Results:

• Successful integration of oral health topics into the NP program.
• Enhanced understanding and application of oral health principles by NP students.
• Shift in teaching methodology towards a more effective, theory-based approach.

Conclusions:

• Interprofessional collaboration is key to addressing curriculum gaps.
• The STAR Legacy Cycle and How People Learn theory provide a robust framework for curriculum enhancement.
• NP programs can effectively incorporate oral health content through strategic partnerships and pedagogical innovation.