Analysis of Current Adult Nursing Curriculum Content in Baccalaureate and diploma Levels

Lee, Hyang Yeon; Kim, Haeng Ja; Kim, Gwuy Bun; Kim, Soon Yong; Suh, Moon Ja; Song, Mi Soon; Kim, Jeong Hwa

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyse the current adult nursing curriculum content in diploma and baccaleurate level nursing schools. The Study was initiated by the Korean Academic Society of Adult Nursing and data were collected from these institutions from March 1997 to April 1998. The questionnaire was constructed after several meetings of researchers which included course description, objectives, conceptual framework, credits(theory and practicum), number of teaching staffs, content and hours for each content. The questionnaire was sent to all of the nursing schools(41 baccalaureate and 62 diploma) in the nation and the response rate were 53.7% in baccalaureate and 25.8% in diploma schools. Primary analysis was took place during summer workship of 1997 Korean Academic Society of Adult Nursing. The second analysis was carried out after additional data of detailed content and hours in adult nursing course were obtained from the schools. The result of primary analysis were as below : 1) The consensus in philosophy of adult nursing was drawn. The client of adult nursing was defined as individual over 18 years who has psychological, physical, social and spiritual aspects and interacting with environment. The client is a member of family and community. The students who finished the course should be able to adapt nursing process to their clients, and improve quality of life. The client, nursing process and nursing were common concepts which included in their conceptual framework. 2) Theory credits ranged 9-18(mean 14.1), practicum credits ranged 5-12(mean 8.1). The number of teaching staffs ranged from 2-6(mean 3.2). 3) The content which most hours assigned to were neuro/endocrine(mean 30.8 hours) gastrointestinal(mean 28.4 hours), cardiovascular(mean 28.6 hours) and respiratory(mean 22.7 hours) systems. 4) Areas taught by other profession(mostly physician) were eye, ear, nose, throat integumentary, radiation therapy, neuromuscular, rehabilitation, respiratory physiology, male genitourinary, pathology and anesthesiology. 5) Contents overlap with other course content should be rearranged in each school curriculums. Improvement of RN national board examination is prerequsite in order to improve adult nursing education in Korea. The result of second analysis were as below : 1) Credits required for graduation were 130-175 in baccalaureate, 93-134 in diploma. Thirteen to Twenty-eight percent of total credits required for nursing major were credits of adult nursing. 2) Mean hours of total adult nursing lecture were 217 in baccalareuate and 212 in diploma. 3) Disease process occupied more hours than nursing process in adult nursing theory. It is suggested to include all nursing educational institutions in order to complete the survey, to delineate the core contents of adult nursing and rate of hours between theory and practise by Korean Academic Society of Adult Nursing.