Judith A. Halstead

Building Innovative Curricula for Academic Progression

INNOVATION IS A WORD OFTEN USED TO DESCRIBE WHAT WE ARE STRIVING FOR IN OUR NURSING PROGRAMS. But what do we really mean when we call for innovation in our curricula and teaching practices? A quick look at a thesaurus tells us that being innovative can also be thought of as being ground-breaking, pioneering, inventive, state-of-the-art, or original. The 2011 Institute of Medicine Future of Nursing report calls for innovative educational programs that will facilitate seamless academic progression in all of our nursing programs, from LPN/LVN through doctoral education. As the voice for all nursing education, the National League for Nursing endorses academic progression options for all nursing programs. Through our mission - the promotion of excellence in nursing education to build a strong and diverse nursing workforce to advance the health of the nation - we are uniquely positioned to address this national goal. In fact, the NLN has long been engaged in ground-breaking and pioneering efforts to facilitate academic progression across all nursing programs through the development of seamless curricula. The NLN Education Competencies Model, introduced in 2010, is the first-ever comprehensive, evidence-based national model for nursing education, developed specifically to provide a framework for seamless program articulation. Built upon the NLNs core values of diversity, integrity, caring, and excellence, the model delineates four program outcomes - human flourishing, nursing judgment, professional identity, and spirit of inquiry - as essential elements of nursing practice that transcend all types of nursing programs. These outcomes are realized through the integration of concepts considered integral to quality nursing practice. The models integrating concepts of context and environment, knowledge and science, personal/professional development, quality and safety, relationship-centered care, and teamwork embody the knowledge, practice, and values of all nurses as professionals. The NLN curriculum model articulates what graduates of each program should be able to do upon program completion, ensuring that graduates are well prepared to meet workforce demands and the needs of an increasingly diverse population. By emphasizing values, outcomes, and integrating concepts instead of content, the model provides a unifying framework for academic progression but avoids a prescriptive approach, allowing programs to retain flexibility in their curriculum designs. …