A new look at nursing school program development: self- and external evaluation

Developing and evaluating educational programs in schools of nursing is one of the most critical functions of the faculty. This process can be approached from a variety of perspectives. Historically, most faculty efforts have been directed at development or evaluation; however, a more proactive approach is to incorporate a process which will encompass both. To accomplish this, two models, the Holistic Formative Evaluation Model and the Stakes Countenance Model, have been merged to produce a model which is applicable to the integrated development and evaluation of a nursing curriculum. This model, the Internal Program Development and Self-Evaluation Model, provides faculty, curriculum developers, and administrators with a comprehensive process which focuses on the monitoring program internal consistency and congruence.