Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing Curriculum Challenges based on Context, Input, Process, and Product Evaluation Model:...

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Curriculum Development
• Healthcare Quality Improvement

Background:

• Nursing curriculum weaknesses hinder graduate professional skill development.
• Master's level neonatal intensive care nursing (NICU) programs require evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate challenges in the NICU master's nursing curriculum using the Context, Input, Process, and Product (CIPP) model.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative approach utilizing the CIPP evaluation model.
• Data collected from master's students, graduates, faculty, neonatologists, NICU nurses, and mothers.
• Purposeful sampling strategy employed.

Main Results:

• Context issues: 'inappropriate infrastructure' and 'unknown duties'.
• Input challenges: 'biomedical approach', 'incomprehensive curriculum', lack of mentors/skill labs, and flawed admission processes.
• Process deficits: overemphasis on theory, credit overlap, mentor inconsistency, and ineffective assessment.
• Product outcomes: graduates prefer routine work, exhibit job-leaving tendencies, clinical incompetency, and dissatisfaction.

Conclusions:

• NICU master's curriculum requires revisions based on expert input.
• Program consequences should be evaluated by nursing experts.