Implementing an Unfolding Case Study Throughout the Nursing Curriculum to Increase Opioid Addiction Education

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Medical Pedagogy

Background:

• Opioid use disorder (OUD) significantly impacts healthcare professionals, necessitating early education for nurses.
• Integrating OUD education into nursing curricula is vital for preparing future healthcare providers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce an innovative pedagogical approach for OUD education in nursing.
• To develop and evaluate an unfolding case study for teaching OUD and its impact on families.

Main Methods:

• Utilized an unfolding case study pedagogical modality, known to foster critical thinking.
• Developed a case study focusing on a patient with OUD and their family, incorporating simulations and discussions.

Main Results:

• The unfolding case study effectively engaged students in assessing and questioning to build knowledge.
• The case study provided a comprehensive learning experience on OUD, family dynamics, and patient care.

Conclusions:

• The unfolding case study is adaptable for integration across undergraduate nursing curricula, from foundational to critical care.
• This method supports interdisciplinary learning opportunities in graduate nursing programs.