Comparison of Master’s Curriculum of Psychiatric Nursing in Iran and the Wayne University, USA: A Comparative Study

Nursing education in various fields, including psychiatric nursing as a part of the higher education system is developing rapidly in recent decades in the world and also in Iran. Comparing the curriculum of Iranian psychiatric nursing with the curriculum of leading countries can be useful in understanding its strengths and weaknesses and providing solutions for its improvement. This study aimed to compare the curriculum of the psychiatric nursing masterchr('39')s degree program in Iran and Wayne, USA.

This descriptive-analytical study was performed in 2020 at Semnan University of Medical Sciences using Bereday four-stages including description, interpretation, juxtaposition, and comparison.

The comparison of the masterchr('39')s degree program in mental health in both environments has similarities and differences. Admission of students to the masterchr('39')s degree in psychiatric nursing in Iran is criterion-based and in the United States is normative. In none of the universities hasn’t defined specific field of study goals. Studying for a masterchr('39')s degree in mental health in Iran is free of charge and face to face and in the United States is by paying tuition in both In-person training and part-time with a suitable platform for virtual and evidence-based education.

Due to the growing needs of patients with mental disorders, increase in the incidence of these disorders in the current society, the complex nature of mental health interventions and the needs and expectations of students, there is a need to review and improve the conditions of student admission, defining the real position and role of graduates, explaining the specific objectives of the field, reviewing the teaching methods and introducing new teaching methods.