title: An integrated approach to curriculum development.
abstract: This paper explores some aspects of what is meant by integration in a nursing curriculum, by looking at both integration of course content and subject matter, and a consequent move away from separated academic disciplines towards a thematic approach, and at integration of the student group, so that different groups of nurse learners study and learn together for a certain proportion of the programme. We consider reasons for adopting an integrated approach by discussion: issues related to learners and the learning context (these include theories of how adults learn and our perspective on the part to be played by experiential learning); the potential implications for client/patient care and the need for transferable skills to work as a member of a team; and staff development for the teachers, including moves away from possible isolation towards team-teaching. We then go on to describe a model for curriculum development devised in our own institution and based on these principles, which incorporates the development of learners professionally, educationally and personally. This paper discusses the topic from a mainly theoretical perspective, and many of the issues will be relevant to a wide range of courses.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Simmons
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bahl
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D016294:Models, Nursing; D016730:Program Development / Q000379:methods*; D013192:Staff Development