Thoughts About Nursing Curricula: Dark Clouds and Bright Lights

Abstract

In this essay, several nurse scholars who are particularly concerned about the contemporary state of nursing science present their concerns about the inclusion of nursing conceptual models and theories in the curricula of nursing programs (dark clouds) and ways in which the concerns have been addressed (bright lights). This essay is the second of two essays that were catalyzed by Barrett's paper, "Again, What Is Nursing Science?" The first essay was published in the previous issue of Nursing Science Quarterly.

A themed game to learn about nursing theories and models: A descriptive study

“…The inclusion of nursing theories and models in the curricula of nursing programmes has been the subject of debate among nursing scholars, and some of them have expressed their concern in the light of the trend of omitting this content in programmes (Turkel et al, 2018). They emphasised the importance of teaching the meaning of nursing science and the basis of the nursing profession from the beginning of the programmes (Turkel et al, 2018).…”

“…The inclusion of nursing theories and models in the curricula of nursing programmes has been the subject of debate among nursing scholars, and some of them have expressed their concern in the light of the trend of omitting this content in programmes (Turkel et al, 2018). They emphasised the importance of teaching the meaning of nursing science and the basis of the nursing profession from the beginning of the programmes (Turkel et al, 2018). For academics facing the challenge of teaching Nursing Models and Theories, this study suggests that gamification of the contents from this specific subject may enhance not only concept learning, but also the students' satisfaction with a course which is usually not highly valued by them.…”

At the intersection of science and theory: How the Nurse Role Integration Model reconciles the conflict

“…Whether to include nursing theory in undergraduate curricula has been vigorously debated over the years with many nursing programs deciding against inclusion. However, as Amankwaa noted in 2018, if “we expect some semblance of connectedness around the topic of nursing science” (p. 185) we must at least expose all nurses to nursing science based on nursing theory [ 13 ]. Exploring the richness of nursing science is often excluded particularly in undergraduate curricula where the focus is on teaching the tasks and techniques needed to become a practicing registered nurse.…”

Nursing Theory Informs Dressage

“…In recent literature, nurse scholars addressed the “missing nursing theory” in a discussion about contemporary nursing science. Noting the absence of nursing science in current literature, Fawcett (Turkel et al, 2018) addressed concerns for the future of a discipline where the history and classic theoretical knowledge base is currently not integrated into emergent curricula. The impact on the future nursing workforce and for the development of nursing science is likely to be devastating.…”