The Current Status of the 3+1 Curriculum Implementation of Nursing College in Transition from a Three-year to a Four-year Nursing Education System

Kim, Sook Young; Lee, Joo Young; Joung, Sun Ei

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the current status of the 3+1 curriculum implementation of nursing college in transition from a three-year to a four-year nursing education system. METHOD: This study employs a triangulation study including a questionnaire survey and a focus group interview. The data collected from 34 nursing colleges were analyzed using SPSS/WIN 21.0 program and the interview data(9 department chairs of nursing colleges) were analyzed using qualitative content analysis.
RESULTS
The important results are as follows; Many colleges applied academic performance as student selection standards. Factors in students' satisfaction are acquiring the bachelor's degree and a lot more relaxed college life. Factors in students' dissatisfaction are anxiety about national nursing exam and absence of college's own specialized programs. Main points of 3+1 course policy making are strengthening character education and core-fundamentals education in nursing. After qualitative contents analysis, three management-related subjects and 7 sub-subjects emerged. Three subjects were the effects of the 3+1 course running, the difficulties in management and how to run the 3+1 course effectively.
CONCLUSION
From the results of this study, we concluded with some practical implications for the 3+1 course running for reformed nursing schools.