The first BSc nursing curriculum in Slovenia: its development and characteristics

This paper presents the process of development-extending over several years- and characteristics of the new BSc curriculum in nursing (second university level), which is an upgrading of the already existing 2-year university nursing course at the School of Health Studies of Ljubljana University, Slovenia. The new 2-year curriculum is run in cooperation between the School of Health Studies and the Faculty of Education. It was prepared at the nursing department of the School on the initiative and with the support of the European Office of Nursing at World Health Organization (WHO). Preparations started in 1985, and the first students entered the programme in 1993. The curriculum is health oriented according to the strategy 'Health for All to Year 2000'. The theoretical framework as well as goals, contents and educational methods were established on the basis of the fundamental philosophy of the programme. One part of the programme is run as an integrated model to put into educational practice the goals of WHO. The reasons for the length of time which elapsed between the initiative for the programme and its implementation are discussed.