Characteristics of nurse practitioner curricula in the United States related to antimicrobial prescribing and resistance.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to examine current nurse practitioner (NP) curricula in the United States with regard to antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance and assess the need for a web-based module for instruction on antimicrobial resistance and appropriate prescribing of antibiotics.


METHODS
A 22-item, anonymous, self-administered, web-based survey was sent to 312 NP programs; 149 (48%) responded. Survey items included questions related to NP specialties offered, program accreditation, format of pharmacology course(s), lecture hours related to antimicrobial therapy, and whether the participant would use a Web-based module to teach NP students about antimicrobial resistance, if one were available.


CONCLUSIONS
Most NP programs (99.3%) required a pharmacology course, and 95% had lectures dedicated to antimicrobial therapy. Half of the programs (53.5%) devoted >or=4 lecture hours to antimicrobial therapy in the pharmacology course, and most (84.8%) reported covering antimicrobial therapy in nonpharmacology courses as well. Approximately half of the programs (45.3%) reported <4 h of lecture on antimicrobial therapy in nonpharmacology courses. Many programs (51.9%) did not offer a microbiology course; 39.2% required microbiology as a prerequisite. Most respondents (86.7%) were familiar with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention antimicrobial resistance program, and 92.6% reported that they would use an electronic module regarding resistance.


CONCLUSIONS
NP curricula generally include <10 h of content on antimicrobial therapy. An electronic module regarding antimicrobial resistance is likely to be a useful and relevant adjunct to current curricula.
Sym
Donna
D
College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions, St. John's University, Queens, New York, USA.
Brennan
Caitlin W
CW
Hart
Ann Marie
AM
Larson
Elaine
E
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction; D003479:Curriculum / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004346:Drug Information Services; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000451:nursing*; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D004511:Education, Nursing, Graduate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008829:Microbiology / Q000193:education; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000193:education*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D010600:Pharmacology / Q000193:education; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017749:Total Quality Management; D014481:United States
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents