Addressing immunizations in nursing education: Immunization resources for undergraduate nursing

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Public Health
• Immunization Science

Background:

• Integrating immunization content into nursing curricula is challenging, often limited to pediatrics.
• Current curricula may prioritize vaccine administration skills over scientific principles like immunology and epidemiology.
• Nurses are well-positioned to combat vaccine hesitancy due to public trust and communication skills.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide nursing faculty with a structured framework and resources for integrating comprehensive immunization education.
• To enhance prelicensure and advanced nursing education regarding immunization science and practice.
• To support nurses in addressing vaccine hesitancy and promoting vaccination.

Main Methods:

• Development of the Immunization Resources for Undergraduate Nursing (IRUN) framework and associated teaching materials.
• Collaboration between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Association for Prevention Teaching and Research.
• Creation of a dedicated website (IRUNursing.org) with curriculum mapping tools and case studies.

Main Results:

• A comprehensive framework (IRUN) designed for integrating immunization content across nursing education.
• Availability of diverse teaching resources, including case studies and simulation scenarios.
• A dedicated online platform (IRUNursing.org) for faculty access and curriculum development.

Conclusions:

• The IRUN framework offers guidance for faculty to embed essential immunization knowledge and skills.
• These resources are valuable for both prelicensure and advanced nursing education.
• Empowering nurses with current immunization science can improve vaccine confidence and uptake.