NR 524 Week 6 Curriculum Plan and Course Syllabus

Student Name

Chamberlain University

NR-524: Curriculum Development

Prof. Name

Date

Curriculum Plan for Pre-Licensure Baccalaureate Nursing Program

Curriculum Plan Presentation

Introduction
KSL Community College, located in Reading, Pennsylvania, offers an on-campus Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program designed to prepare students for professional nursing practice. Admission requires a high school diploma or its equivalent. The program consists of 70 credits: 30 credits of general education and prerequisite courses, and 40 credits of nursing-specific coursework.

The ADN curriculum emphasizes an innovative, student-centered approach that fosters professional growth, critical thinking, and competence in providing safe, holistic, and evidence-based nursing care. Its overarching aim is to provide accessible, high-quality education while cultivating students’ passion for patient-centered practice.

This paper outlines the ADN curriculum plan at KSL Community College, examines the role of accreditation in program quality, provides detailed course descriptions, and highlights the significance of peer collaboration in curriculum development.

Appropriate Accrediting Body

The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) is the accrediting authority for the KSL ADN program. Recognized by both the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), ACEN ensures that nursing programs meet rigorous academic and professional standards (ACEN, 2013).

While accreditation is voluntary, it offers several benefits. ACEN’s peer-review process promotes continuous improvement, assists faculty in developing high-quality curricula, and ensures alignment with national nursing standards. Compliance with ACEN standards assures students, employers, and the community that graduates are competent, ethical, and prepared to provide holistic care.

Course Descriptions

The ADN program requires completion of 70 total credits, with students completing 30 credits of general education and prerequisite courses before advancing into the 40-credit nursing sequence. Some courses are prerequisites for advanced courses, ensuring a structured progression of knowledge and skills.

General Education and Prerequisite Courses (30 Credits)

Category	Course Code & Title	Credits	Notes
Communication	COM 121 – English Composition	3	Transferable
	COM 151 – Fundamentals of Speech	3	Transferable
	COM 280 – Informatics & Communication in Nursing	2	Nursing-specific focus
Mathematics	MAT 150 – Foundations of Mathematics	3	Transferable
Pharmacology	PHAR 100 – Pharmacology I	3	Nursing prerequisite
Science	BIO 250 – Anatomy & Physiology I	4	Transferable
	BIO 255 – Anatomy & Physiology II	4	Transferable
	BIO 280 – Microbiology	4	Transferable
Social Science	PSY 130 – General Psychology	3	Transferable
	SOC 130 – Sociology	3	Transferable
Humanities/Ethics	PHI 275 – Ethics	3	Supports ethical reasoning

Nursing Courses (40 Credits)

Course Code	Title	Credits	Description
NUR 100	Fundamentals & Theory of Nursing	6	Introduces foundational nursing concepts and Jean Watson’s Theory of Caring. Includes communication, assessment, and teaching skills with clinical exposure in long-term care, acute care, and community health.
NUR 120	Holistic and Multicultural Nursing Care	3	Focuses on holistic, culturally competent care, exploring diverse cultural health beliefs, and applying appropriate assessment techniques.
NUR 150	Medical/Surgical Nursing	6	Expands on acute and chronic health issues. Emphasizes critical thinking and clinical judgment in caring for adults and adolescents.
NUR 200	Maternal Child Health Nursing	7	Examines care for childbearing families, pediatrics, and acute alterations in health. Promotes therapeutic communication and developmentally appropriate interventions.
NUR 250	Advanced Medical/Surgical/Trauma Nursing	7	Builds on prior coursework, focusing on rapidly changing patient conditions, trauma, and ethical considerations. Clinical experiences emphasize multi-client care.
NUR 299	NCLEX Review	2	Provides test-taking strategies, practice exams, and preparation for licensure readiness.

Peer Collaboration

The development of the ADN curriculum relied heavily on peer collaboration and professional input. Faculty reviewed curriculum structures from other nursing programs, discussed strategies for optimal course sequencing, and incorporated feedback to balance student workload while meeting accreditation requirements.

Peers contributed innovative approaches to reduce student stress, ensure comprehensive learning, and integrate ethical and evidence-based practice. Online resources and curriculum models from other institutions provided additional guidance. Frequent iterative revisions ensured the final curriculum was well-balanced, comprehensive, and aligned with professional nursing standards.

Collaboration strengthened the program by fostering diverse perspectives, improving course content, and supporting students’ acquisition of the knowledge, clinical skills, and ethical foundations necessary for competent nursing practice.

References

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). (2013). Accreditation manual. Retrieved from http://www.acenursing.org

Lachman, V. D. (2012). Applying the ethics of care to your nursing practice. MedSurg Nursing, 21(2), 112–115. Retrieved from http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/EthicsStandards/Resources/Applying-the-Ethics-of-Care-to-Your-Nursing-Practice.pdf

National League for Nursing (NLN) – Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (CNEA). (2016). Accreditation standards for nursing education programs. Retrieved from http://www.nln.org/docs/default-source/accreditation-services/cnea-standards-final-february2016.pdf

Wadsworth, A. M. (2012). Theory-based exemplar of Jean Watson’s theory of caring. International Journal for Human Caring, 16(1), 64–67.