C920: Essay on Curriculum Design & Development in Nursing Education

Student Name

Western Governors University

C920 Contemporary Curriculum Design and Development in Nursing Education

Prof. Name

Date

C920 – Contemporary Curriculum Design and Development in Nursing Education

Curriculum Committee

Effective curriculum development in nursing education demands intentional organization, inclusive governance, and a solid scholarly foundation. The case of Sycamore University College of Nursing exemplifies the need for academic programs to periodically evaluate their curricula to maintain alignment with evolving healthcare practices and societal needs. The guiding questions related to this case serve as a framework to analyze decisions about curriculum structure, committee roles, faculty involvement, and instructional design approaches.

Sycamore University College of Nursing Scenario

The undergraduate nursing curriculum at Sycamore University was originally developed over three years and has remained mostly unchanged for nearly a decade. Since the curriculum’s inception, faculty demographics have shifted considerably—only about one-third of current faculty were involved in the original design. Concerns have grown among faculty, administration, and alumni regarding the curriculum’s strong adherence to a traditional medical model, which critics argue insufficiently incorporates community-based nursing, population health, and social determinants of health. These areas are now recognized as essential to modern nursing practice.

While opinions vary, there is a broad consensus that minor updates would be inadequate. Instead, a thorough curriculum overhaul is timely and necessary to ensure relevance and responsiveness to contemporary healthcare demands.

In response to this need, Dr. Isabel Perkins, the academic head of the College of Nursing, appointed Dr. Lakeisha Williams as chair of the Curriculum Committee to lead the redesign initiative. Dr. Williams was chosen because of her expertise in curriculum development, her strong interpersonal and organizational abilities, and her deep understanding of the institutional culture. The Curriculum Committee agreed to operate as a Steering Committee, responsible for coordinating the curriculum redesign, ensuring stakeholder engagement, monitoring timelines, and fostering transparent communication throughout the process.

Early discussions focused on whether curriculum development should be centralized within a single design team or decentralized across multiple specialized committees. The committee also began identifying key stakeholders and drafting a preliminary project timeline. Dr. Williams committed to consolidating these initial discussions into a formal proposal with clear milestones for presentation at an upcoming faculty meeting. These organizational decisions are crucial for launching a timely and effective curriculum redesign.

Reflection Questions and Responses

What are the advantages and disadvantages of different curriculum development structures?

Structure Type	Advantages	Disadvantages
Single Design Team	Consistency in philosophy and coherence across the curriculum	Potentially heavy workload on a small group; limited faculty participation and ownership
Multiple Committees	Promotes shared governance; distributes workload; diverse expertise	Risk of fragmentation and lack of alignment if coordination is weak
Hybrid Model	Combines centralized oversight with specialized working groups; balances coherence and diversity	Requires strong communication to avoid overlap or gaps

A hybrid model is generally viewed as the most effective approach, balancing centralized leadership with distributed expertise.

Which committees are essential in facilitating curriculum development and what are their responsibilities?

Committee Name	Primary Responsibilities
Curriculum Design Committee	Defines curricular philosophy, program outcomes, and overarching conceptual framework
Course Content Committee	Develops detailed course objectives, outlines content, and sequences learning activities
Assessment and Evaluation Committee	Designs student assessment methods and program evaluation tools
Faculty Development Committee	Organizes faculty training, mentoring, and supports scholarly engagement in curriculum work

Including a diverse membership in these committees—beyond full-time faculty to clinical partners, alumni, students, and community representatives—helps maintain curricular relevance and fosters broad stakeholder commitment.

How can Dr. Williams promote scholarship as a core component of curriculum development?

Dr. Williams can frame curriculum redesign as a scholarly endeavor by encouraging evidence-based decision-making and promoting collaborative research on teaching and learning outcomes. Recognizing curriculum-related scholarship in promotion and tenure criteria can motivate faculty engagement. Systematic evaluation and dissemination of curriculum outcomes further validate this work as a legitimate academic pursuit.

What faculty development activities support effective curriculum redesign?

Faculty development should include targeted workshops on curriculum theory, instructional design, assessment techniques, educational technologies, and principles of community health integration. Sustained support through mentoring, peer review, and interdisciplinary collaboration ensures ongoing faculty competence and commitment throughout the redesign process.

Instructional Design Models and Frameworks

Model Selection and Application

Instructional design models offer structured methodologies for developing nursing curricula while addressing the complexity of nursing education. The ADDIE model (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation) is widely adopted due to its clear, systematic phases and strong emphasis on continuous evaluation and improvement. Alternatively, learner-centered models such as the Morrison, Ross, and Kemp framework allow for more flexibility and iterative adaptation, which is beneficial in dynamic educational contexts with evolving learner needs.

Why is needs analysis important in nursing education?

Conducting a thorough needs analysis is foundational to successful curriculum development. It identifies gaps between current educational outcomes and the skills required in clinical practice. In nursing education, needs analysis also considers student diversity, community health priorities, and available institutional resources. This process supports the alignment of learning outcomes with workforce demands, enables efficient resource use, and promotes targeted improvement in professional competencies.

What are the strengths and limitations of the ADDIE model?

Phase	Strengths	Limitations
Analysis	Clarifies learner needs and contextual factors	May be time-consuming if overly detailed
Design	Provides clear structure and goals	Can be too linear, limiting responsiveness
Development	Facilitates organized creation of materials	Resource intensive
Implementation	Focuses on effective delivery	May not allow rapid adjustments
Evaluation	Emphasizes ongoing improvement through feedback	Dependent on timely and accurate data

The ADDIE model’s structured approach supports clarity and accountability, but rigidity can hamper adaptability in fast-changing healthcare environments.

How can the Morrison, Ross, and Kemp model be applied to a learning activity?

In the course “The Role of the BSN Nurse in Promoting Community Health,” an instructional problem was identified: students needed improved competence in community engagement and health promotion. Given the diverse learner backgrounds, instructional strategies had to be adaptable.

Learning objectives included analyzing community health needs, developing culturally responsive interventions, and demonstrating effective communication with community stakeholders. Content covered epidemiology, social determinants of health, collaborative practice, and evidence-based interventions.

The Morrison, Ross, and Kemp model supports the alignment of objectives, learner characteristics, content, instructional methods, and evaluation strategies in a flexible, non-linear manner. This adaptability is key for addressing diverse learner needs and contextual factors.

Approaching Course Design and Construction

Course coherence is achieved through curriculum mapping, which links course objectives to broader program outcomes and clinical practice expectations. Mapping helps faculty visualize connections, identify redundancies or gaps, and resolve conflicts through collaborative dialogue. Iterative revision and open communication are vital to preserving curriculum integrity.

Faculty development supporting course design includes training in curriculum mapping, assessment strategies, instructional technologies, and scholarly teaching. Peer collaboration and mentorship enhance course quality and consistency.

Developing for Distance Learning: Cardol College School of Nursing Case

Scenario Overview

Cardol College School of Nursing, recognized for its community-focused education, offers a BSN program in both traditional and hybrid formats. The increasing prevalence of web-based technologies has sparked debate among faculty about expanding distance learning.

Proponents highlight benefits such as greater accessibility, alignment with institutional goals, and preparation for technology-rich healthcare environments. Opponents worry about reduced interpersonal interaction, challenges in role modeling professional behaviors, and additional faculty workload.

Dr. Grace Ingersmith, the college leader, advocates for thoughtful integration of distance learning that aligns with the university’s mission to increase access while maintaining quality. She stresses that technology adoption must be pedagogically sound and well-supported.

Reflection Questions for Curriculum Review

Key Questions	Considerations
How does distance learning impact student engagement and outcomes?	Assess the effectiveness of online delivery methods and student success metrics
What technological and pedagogical supports are necessary?	Identify resources needed for faculty training, technical support, and student access
How can interpersonal skills and professional behaviors be modeled online?	Develop strategies for online mentoring, simulations, and interactive activities
What are the resource and workload implications?	Evaluate faculty time demands, infrastructure costs, and scalability
How does technology integration align with curriculum and community needs?	Ensure technology use supports program goals and serves local healthcare priorities

What are the benefits and challenges of increasing technology-based learning?

Benefits include flexibility in scheduling, expanded access for diverse student populations, enhanced digital literacy, and opportunities for innovative instructional methods.

Challenges involve potential loss of face-to-face interaction, resistance from faculty unfamiliar with technology, increased preparation time, and disparities in student access to reliable technology.

Mandating web-based technology integration in nursing theory courses can reflect real-world practice and support diverse learning preferences. However, safeguards must be in place to preserve relational learning, ensure equitable access, and provide ongoing faculty support.

References

Billings, D. M., & Halstead, J. A. (2020). Teaching in nursing: A guide for faculty (6th ed.). Elsevier.

Iwasiw, C., Andrusyszyn, M. A., & Goldenberg, D. (2020). Curriculum development in nursing education (4th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Obizoba, M. C. (2015). Building a learning activity in nursing education using the Morrison, Ross, and Kemp instructional design model. Nursing Education Perspectives, 36(4), 231–235.