Development and Implementation of a Family-Focused Undergraduate Nursing Curriculum: Minnesota State University, Mankato

Abstract

Nurse educators have the responsibility to create learning experiences centered on the scientific and praxis foci of the nursing discipline to advance nursing practice with families. Although the nursing profession has ample knowledge about the importance of family nursing and the value of family-focused actions, there is a lack of curricular and teaching models that address nursing practice with families in numerous courses and learning experiences. This article describes the development of a family-focused undergraduate curriculum and teaching-learning practices at Minnesota State University, Mankato in the United States. A vision and mission centered on the nursing of families, a family care teaching model, a framework of family constructs, and taxonomy of significant learning strategies guided faculty in creating learner-centered experiences. Course objectives, competencies, and teaching-learning practices in this curriculum are described. This manuscript may guide the development of innovative teaching-learning practices that integrate family nursing constructs and family nursing actions from a variety of family nursing models and theories. Initial evaluation suggests that this curriculum can increase students' knowledge of family and instill a passion for family care in undergraduate programs.

Effectiveness of Educational Programs for Clinical Competence in Family Nursing: A Systematic Review

“…Competency-based education is complex, requiring the integration of knowledge, skills, and attitudes for competent and effective clinical performance (Cowan et al, 2007; Duhamel et al, 2015; Meiers et al, 2018; Wright & Leahey, 2013). More specifically, such competency-based education should include theoretical frameworks that provide a knowledge base and guidelines in family nursing practice (Duhamel, 2017; Wright & Leahey, 2013).…”

Early Career Nurses’ Experiences of Providing Family Nursing Care: Perceived Benefits and Challenges

“…In an effort to more fully translate and implement family nursing science into nursing practice, faculty at Minnesota State University, Mankato, developed a family-focused traditional baccalaureate-nursing curriculum over the last decade (Meiers et al, 2018). Courses throughout the curriculum direct student attention to the health of individual, family, and society in nursing practice.…”

Measuring Change in Nurses’ Perceptions About Family Nursing Competency Following a 6-Day Educational Intervention

“…The International Family Nursing Association (IFNA) has developed two Position Statements to guide the development of generalist and advanced practice competencies in family nursing (IFNA, 2015(IFNA, , 2017. In many countries around the world, family nursing theory is often included in undergraduate and graduate nursing education (Angelo, 2008;Astedt-Kurki, Paavilainen, Paunonen, & Nieminen, 1998;Bell, 2010;Braun & Foster, 2011;Meiers, Eggenberger, & Krumwiede, 2018;Moriyama, 2008). However, in the Netherlands, this is not yet the case.…”