Ideological influences on curriculum development in nurse education

The development of curricula in nurse education cannot be viewed in isolation from the socio-political context within which it exists. Changes in the prevailing political ideology have impacted on the social life of individuals, and the reflection of this can be traced in the curricula of nursing courses over time. To ensure that courses meet the needs of both students and society, it is important for teachers to recognize the influence of the context within which such development takes place, and to understand the ideological underpinning of that which is being both taught and learnt. It is only with adequate understanding that challenges can be presented and change promoted when necessary.