An integrative curriculum for accelerated nursing education programs.
The number of accelerated baccalaureate and direct-entry master's nursing programs being offered in the United States is increasing. These programs shorten the amount of time to educate entry-level nurses. This article describes one school's curriculum for a direct-entry master's nursing program. A faculty task force developed the curriculum and used the opportunity to change the educational paradigm from traditional pedagogical to a concept student-learning approach. The curriculum design, which integrates nursing content through a conceptual model, and an innovative clinical experience model are described. In addition, the article discusses the successes and challenges of the program encountered during the first 2 years of initiation of the curriculum.
Schreier
Ann M
AM
East Carolina University College of Nursing, 3137 Health Sciences Building, Greenville, NC 27858, USA. schreieran@ecu.edu
Peery
Annette I
AI
McLean
Cathy B
CB
D003479:Curriculum; D004511:Education, Nursing, Graduate / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D017145:Models, Educational; D009657:North Carolina; D011231:Preceptorship; D013997:Time Factors