Introduction
The students of the University of the District of Columbia are offered a new program with the help of which they can develop their leadership skills in the sphere of nursing. Masters of Science in Nursing: Clinical Nurse Leader is the program under consideration. It lasts for two years with five semesters, including one summer semester during the first year of education. It is a full-time program of study, where first five semesters take place on campus; 540 clinical hours (the second parts of Fall and Spring of the second year) are devoted to a clinical nurse leader practicum.
The environment of health care is complicated indeed, and it is very important to underline the importance of nursing care. The role of a nurse as a Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) is new, and students have to be ready to develop the required skills and get the necessary portion of knowledge in a short period. Still, it is necessary not to neglect the necessity of practice and exchange of experience. This program prepares CNLs as the leaders in all settings where health care can be delivered, who are able to improve the outcomes for patients. The peculiar feature of this profession is the necessity to cooperate with doctors, social workers, and clinical specialists and know how to use the latest technologies and provide patients with the best care.
The chosen University of the District of Columbia prepares professionals in the sphere of nursing, business, agriculture, environmental sciences, etc. Not much attention is paid to such profession as CNL. It is suggested to offer this program to the students of the University as a chance to provide the population of Washington, D.C. (that is more than 650,000 people) with nursing experts. The ethnic variety of population (White Hispanics, Black, Asian, Native Americans, etc.) is impressive indeed, and CNLs should know how to provide health care for each person on the necessary level.
Design Type
Design
The student-centered curriculum design is used in the program. This educational approach focuses on the students’ needs, interests, and abilities. A teacher becomes a facilitator and a person, who offers students the required material and sources. It is offered to involve students in independent projects and group discussions to clarify what students know and want to know about nursing. Students are encouraged to create journals and organize debates.
Mission
The role of Clinical Nurse Leader has to be properly evaluated, and students should understand how crucial this profession for health care can be. The mission of the program is to provide patients with good nursing professional and a qualified health care regarding a changing healthcare system. It is not enough to inform students about the significance of this profession and explain which skills should be developed. It is more important to underline why students should participate in the program.
Values
The main values that have to be introduced to the participants of the program are the respect to all human beings, who may be in need of health care, excellence in performing nursing duties, innovation and technological progress that can improve the healthcare system, a desire to support change, and the necessity to benefit from lifelong learning that is crucial for CNLs.
Goals
The program aims at introducing different aspects of nursing (physio-pathological basics, pharmacology issues, advanced nursing peculiarities, healthcare policy, finance, etc.) to the students and providing assistance in nursing practice that can take place as soon as the theoretical material is delivered.
Course of Study
Admission Requirements
There are several requirements students have to be aware of when they make a decision to participate in the Masters of Science in Nursing: Clinical Nurse Leader.
- A baccalaureate degree from a recognized university or a college and satisfactory marks;
- Satisfactory marks in such courses as Epidemiology, Human Physiology, Psychology, Statistics, Communication, and English;
- Personal and academic competence;
- Good results in writing English compositions about the role of nursing and a Clinical Nurse Leader in a hospital;
- Good knowledge of English (oral and written);
- A nursing practice during 2-4 months.
Besides, it is necessary to underline that distant learning is not available for the participants of this program. Students have to visit all courses on campus, participate in discussions directly, and complete all tasks in accordance with the deadlines set. Extensions are usually not allowed.
Teaching Strategies for a Learner-Centered Curriculum
There are many teaching strategies that can be offered to a learner-centered curriculum in order to make the learning environment more interactive and technologically integrated (Billings & Halstead, 2011). The curriculum under analysis may be improved by such strategies as lectures, case methods, simulations (technological integration), discussions, and cooperative learning. In spite of the fact that the curriculum is learner-centered, it is necessary for students to listen to lectures and study new material properly discussed by a teacher. As soon as the lectures are over, it is necessary to involve students in a variety of work. Students should demonstrate their desire to work, motivation, enthusiasm, and abilities to find a practical application to the already gained theoretical knowledge.
Technological integration helps students not only to receive instructions (McCaffrey, 2012). Technology can be used to create simulations so that nurses can demonstrate their skills and readiness to work in the healthcare environment. Case methods, discussions, and cooperative learning are the strategies that support the idea of collectivism and the necessity to use personal skills. It is not an easy task to become a leader. The current curriculum aims at creating powerful leaders. Group work is the best way for students to identify their potential of being a leader.
It is expected that students want to participate in various activities and are not afraid to make mistakes. On the one hand, they realize that the chosen teaching strategies are faked and aim at helping to develop their skills. On the other hand, communication with real people and the current technological progress introduces a kind of real environment that makes students think and evaluate the consequences of their decisions and activities.
Evaluation
The evaluation of a curriculum is a chance to comprehend the effectiveness of the work done and the results that can be achieved or expected. There are many methods that can help to realize if the objectives and goals of the curriculum are met properly and what improvements can be suggested within the frames of the chosen plan. The current curriculum can be evaluated by means of:
- Students’ feedbacks: it is possible to ask students share their opinions about the program offered and discuss their expectations, first impressions, and final results. Students are welcome to share their opinions about the progress observed during the courses (Billing & Halstead, 2011).
- Alignment with standards can be used to clarify if the curriculum corresponds with the state standards or if there are some misunderstandings or failures to meet the goals and provide students with the necessary portion of knowledge.
- Students may take specially developed tests to check the level of knowledge and progress that has been achieved during the course. The results of the tests can show if the curriculum and the way of how new material has been offered are effective indeed.
- Peer observations can be gathered. Teachers and colleagues can share their ideas on the curriculum and the results of the tests got. It is interesting and educative to listen to what other people think about the plan and what recommendations they can give to improve the work.
In general, the program for Clinical Nurse Leaders shows that the Masters of Science in Nursing degree is not easy to get, and much work should be done. Students and teachers have to be ready to work hard and demonstrate their best skills, motivation, and abilities to become the best representatives in the chosen sphere. It is not for students to take courses and visit lectures. Students, who want to become nurse leaders, have to work hard, pay much attention to group work, and demonstrate their skills and abilities to make decisions in different situations relying on their knowledge, personal experience, and facts that cannot be neglected. Nursing is not an easy sphere of work. It contains a number of psychological, physical, and emotional challenges. Students have to be ready for them and learn the material properly.
References
Billings, D.M. & Halstead, J.A. (2011). Teaching in nursing: A guide for faculty. St. Louis, MI: Elsevier Saunders.
McCaffrey, R. (2012). Doctor of nursing practice: Enhancing professional development. Philadelphia, PA: F.A. Davis.