Educational Revolution: Integrating Concept-Based Curriculum and Active Learning for Mental Health Nursing Students

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing

Background:

• Traditional lecture-based methods may not adequately prepare nursing students for licensing exams.
• A shift towards active learning strategies is needed in psychiatric mental health nursing education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To share a successful course model for preparing registered nurse (RN) students for the psychosocial integrity portion of the National Council Licensing Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).
• To describe the conceptual framework and active learning strategies implemented in a psychiatric mental health nursing course.

Main Methods:

• Implemented a new concept-based nursing curriculum design.
• Converted lecture-based teaching to active learning strategies for mental health nursing concepts.
• Provided details on course objectives, clinical placements, testing, organization, and content.

Main Results:

• Predictive exam scores (HESI RN Psychiatric Mental Health Specialty Exam) exceeded the national average.
• Achieved a 97% pass rate on the NCLEX-RN for the studied cohort of 90 students.
• Received predominantly positive student evaluations for the course.

Conclusions:

• Integrating conceptual frameworks and active learning enhances student success in psychiatric mental health nursing.
• This educational approach may improve pass rates for the NCLEX-RN psychosocial integrity section.