5 credits

Curricula and courses have enduring frameworks, yet the content and processes for teaching nursing require continuous change as technology innovates and the science of disease management and prevention evolves. In this course, students prepare for their work as curriculum change leaders and advocates to ensure nursing education meets the requirements and challenges of today's and tomorrow's healthcare needs. Course content and activities apply research processes and strategies that PhD students have mastered in previous courses for their dissertation work. Students begin by examining core competencies for nurse educators and evaluating their individual capacity in competencies with particular relevance to curriculum change leadership. They develop a theoretical framework for curriculum change; complete a literature review on a recommended national goal for transforming nursing education; explore trends with implications for nursing curriculum and educators; promote interprofessional collaboration by writing an article for publication; and create a concept map as a visual representation of the evaluation process, including as a catalyst for curriculum change. Through weekly Discussions and Blogs, students replicate the collaboration and debate between nursing faculty and demonstrate their potential as nurse educators to be agents of positive social change.