title: Characteristics of nurse practitioner curricula in the United States related to antimicrobial prescribing and resistance.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions, St. John's University, Queens, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sym
authors.forename: Caitlin W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Brennan
authors.forename: Ann Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Hart
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Larson
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents