A concept-based curriculum (CBC) helps nursing students develop clinical judgment and apply knowledge effectively. By addressing content saturation, CBC fosters deep learning, organizes content, and enhances teaching strategies. Expert Nursing Education Consultants (formerly NurseTim(R) Consultations).
A nursing student reviews a patient’s electronic health record, noting a pneumonia diagnosis. They immediately consider the concepts of infection and gas exchange, anticipating cues like breath sounds and oxygen saturation. The student skillfully plans care, organizing knowledge learned from a nursing program built around concepts and exemplars. This level of clinical readiness is no accident.
The faculty designed this curriculum after critically evaluating their previous program and seeing students struggle with clinical judgment and NCLEX® success. They knew a major clinical revision was necessary to address content saturation and improve outcomes. After analyzing various models, the school selected a concept-based curriculum (CBC). This article examines the merits of a CBC and offers next steps for programs interested in effective models for nursing education.
Why curriculum revision in nursing education is essential
One of the main drivers for a curriculum revision in nursing education is the ever-growing volume of information that must be covered in programs. This challenge, known as content saturation, often leaves both faculty and students overwhelmed with facts and unable to apply them effectively to the work of nursing. A thoughtfully planned nursing education curriculum is the solution.
A concept-based curriculum (CBC) provides a powerful organizational framework. It helps develop clinical judgment, links new information to existing knowledge, and scaffolds content from simple to more complex elements. This approach ensures a holistic perspective on patient care, moving beyond memorization to foster true understanding.
The role of concepts and exemplars in nursing curriculum development
Effective curriculum development in nursing education using a CBC model involves strategically selecting and placing core concepts throughout the program. Faculty then use exemplars to illustrate these concepts in a practical context.
- Concepts: These are the broad, foundational ideas, such as “infection” or “gas exchange.”
- Exemplars: These are specific conditions or situations, like “pneumonia,” that showcase the concept’s attributes, key assessments, and appropriate interventions.
Exemplars give students the opportunity to identify key components of care and generalize that knowledge to related conditions. By learning to “compare and contrast,” students build meaningful conceptual links and create narratives for providing safe and effective nursing care. This process cultivates the conditionalized knowledge necessary for high-level clinical reasoning.
To learn more about the specific advantages of this model, you can explore the benefits of a concept-based curriculum in nursing.
Fostering deeper learning and clinical judgment
Research into how students learn further validates the benefits of a CBC approach. Beyond providing an organizational structure for content, the philosophy behind a CBC motivates faculty and learners to engage in more dynamic educational practices.
Moving beyond traditional lectures
A modern nursing education curriculum thrives on interaction and engagement. The CBC model naturally promotes:
- Interactive teaching: Methods that actively involve students in the learning process.
- Collaborative learning: Strategies that encourage teamwork and peer-to-peer knowledge sharing.
- Active learning methods: Application-focused activities like case studies, simulations, and problem-based learning.
These techniques help students form valuable cognitive connections as they apply knowledge across multiple situations and conditions. In essence, the CBC provides the essential building blocks for higher-level thinking and sound clinical judgment. For more information on this trend, see resources on competency-based nursing education.
Expert guidance for your curriculum revision journey
Countless nursing faculty have enlisted help to guide them through the curriculum change process. Solutions like Expert Nursing Education Consultants offer services to facilitate and expedite curricular change, including program reviews, “getting started” workshops, course development, and implementation conferences.
Previous clients who engaged in CBC-related services have shared positive feedback:
- “This CBC workshop answered so many questions I had about CBC and met all our needs.”
- “After this consultation, I am ready to take concepts and activities into the classroom.”
Take the next step in your nursing curriculum development
Whether you have already begun your curriculum revision in nursing education and feel stuck, or you are just starting out, expert guidance can help. Strategically planned consultation services can launch your program into the world of concept-based curricula and successful programmatic revision.
Ready to take your nursing program to the next level? Visit our Competency-Based Solutions for Nursing Education page to learn more and fill out the form to get started.
