title: Paradigm shift: curriculum change.
abstract: The purpose of this article is to discuss the curriculum change process in an associate degree nursing program in a southeastern university. Recent changes in the healthcare arena have documented the need for change in the delivery of healthcare services and the preparation of healthcare providers. Nurses as the largest group of professionals in this setting have begun to examine the current delivery of nursing care to patients (HRSA, 2010). This has major implications for the prelicensure nursing curriculum. Curriculum change is a process that includes evidenced based preparation and continuous evaluation. Intensive faculty support is essential at all levels. The department of nursing has begun the change process. This involves professional development activities to prepare the nursing faculty for the preparation of a sound curriculum to prepare the next generation of nurses.
authors.affiliation: Virginia State University, Petersburg, Virginia, USA. kfaison@vsu.edu
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Faison
authors.forename: Frances
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Montague
mesh_terms: D003479:Curriculum; D004507:Education, Nursing, Associate; D006801:Humans; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D016730:Program Development; D015144:Southeastern United States