Fast Facts for Curriculum Development in Nursing: How to Develop & Evaluate Educational Programs in a Nutshell

This new addition to the Fast Facts series is a pithy guide for novice nurse educators to the development, revision, and evaluation of programs and curricula that meet the standard requirements of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, the NLNAC, and CCNE.

Applying the concepts and principles of Systems Theory, the guide moves through the development process to include evaluation procedures where decisions are based on data. It addresses the common definitions of curriculum, how to design a curriculum, and how to design courses in accordance with the organizing elements of the program. The guide covers the purposes and development of a mission statement and of a program philosophy, as well as how to select an organizational framework. Curriculum implementation and faculty development requirements are also explored, in addition to educational and program outcomes and their evaluation. Organized for quick access and ease of use, each chapter defines key terms, summarizes important points, and lists resources for additional study.

• Designed for use by all nursing educators regardless of educational environment or type of learner
• Breaks each step of the program development process into manageable parts that build on each other
• Uses concepts and principles of Systems Theory to guide curriculum development and evaluation
• Assists new nurse educators in quickly identifying the individual elements of a program and grasping the connections between them

Jan L. McCoy, PhD, RN, a nurse educator for over 25 years, has a wealth of experience in developing, implementing, and evaluating nursing education programs. Along with Dr. Anema, she developed the Walden University MSN distance program, as well as the RN-BSN and MSN distance, competency-based nursing programs at Western Governors University.

Marion G. Anema, PhD, RN, a nurse educator for over 25 years, has a wealth of experience in developing, implementing, and evaluating nursing education programs. Along with Dr. McCoy, she developed the Walden University MSN distance program, as well as the RN-BSN and MSN distance, competency-based nursing programs at Western Governors University.