Reforming of bachelor nursing curriculum based on the concept of caring in education

There have been made lots of attempts to design curricula based on conceptual frameworks. The aim of this study was to reform the bachelor nursing curriculum on the concept of caring in education.

 This study was done in 5 parts based on Leana Uys

1. Establishing the context and foundations which consists of two steps: In the first step (i.e. designing the framework), the concept of caring in nursing education was analyzed with principle-based concept analysis methodology introduced by Hupcey & Penrod (2005). Then, the caring experience of the faculty and students in Nursing Faculty of Mashhad were analyzed by content analysis. Finally, the findings of two studies (concept analysis and content analysis) were integrated and an advanced theoretical definition of the caring concept in nursing education was introduced, using Template Comparison methodology introduced by Penrod and Hupcey (2003). In the second step (i.e. designing the context) the situation of Nursing Faculty of Mashhad was analyzed. 2- Defining the curriculum vision and mission based on the concept of caring in nursing education. 3- Developing a macro-curriculum and the curriculum outcomes. 4- Developing an instance of a micro curriculum. 5- Planning for curriculum evaluation.

 An integrative and advanced definition of the concept of caring in nursing education was presented. Then in macro and micro-curriculum parts, proposal and comparative courses were suggested and described, and finally the internal and external evaluation for assessing the curriculum were recommended.

The bachelor nursing curriculum has been designed and revised based on the concept of caring in nursing education and the results of the conceptual and situational analysis. Integration of the concept of caring in education is recommended for designing and reforming all courses and levels of nursing.