Comparison of Iranian Master’s of Pediatric Nursing Curriculum with Duke University of America: A Narrative Review

In all societies, educational goals have many similarities. However, educational planning to achieve the goals varies according to the needs of the communities. Comparing different educational programs in nursing can improve the content and quality of the educational program and respond to the needs of the community to train and provide a skilled nursing staff. Therefore, this comparative study was conducted to identify more similarities and differences between the two curricula.

In this descriptive-comparative study operated in 2021, the required data in relation to the Master of Pediatric Nursing Education Program was gathered using the following keyword search: The comparative study, Curriculum, Master, Pediatric Nursing, America, Iran. Moreover, a review of the history and details of the curriculum of the master's degree program in pediatric nursing in Iran and Duke University were searched and collected. Then the data were analyzed using Bereday model in four stages of description, interpretation, proximity and comparison.

The Master of Pediatric Nursing program in Iran and Duke University were similar in terms of philosophy and perspective, the role of students after graduation, and educational strategies and teaching methods. However, it differs in terms of admission conditions (in the case of decentralized admission, a formal work permit (RN) and one year of pediatric care experience are required), the nature of the field (in Duke, it focuses on field and clinical education, in contrast, it is mostly based on education, research, and research dissertation in Iran). Moreover, the mission of the field (In Iran it focuses on family-centered care and at Duke University it focuses on cultural issues) as well as the perspective of the field (in Iran, the position of
pediatric nursing education is in line with international standards and in Duke university is focused on training transformational leaders in the future) were evaluated.

The Master's program in Pediatric Nursing in Iran has many similarities with the similar program at Duke University, but to improve the quality of this field in Iran, its differences with the Duke curriculum such as work experience requirement for accepting volunteers, conducting interviews to assess psychological characteristics Before entering the course and also focusing on teaching clinical skills and paying attention to cultural issues in family-centered care should be further examined and considered in the program review.