School of Nursing faculty at Minnesota State University, Mankato, Minnesota, USA recently launched an undergraduate curriculum with a focus on preparing nurses who possess the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to advance family nursing practice. Since 2007 this community of teaching scholars has committed their efforts to creating nursing curricula at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral level that support health and healing of families and evidence-based family nursing practice. The curriculum transformation began with the University, School, the Glen Taylor Nursing Institute for Family and Society, and individual faculty intentionally forming a scholarly community focused on family nursing. Individual and teams of faculty developed curriculum and course outcomes, as well as competencies related to family nursing science and praxis. Each course integrates family theory, research, and practice within an experiential, simulation or service learning component. Teaching learning practices guide students in applying current family nursing evidence, developing attitudes that nursing practice impacts family health, and gaining confidence in their family nursing care. The curriculum includes a series of four courses that address family constructs, family competencies and family nursing actions. A rigorous evaluation process is underway. This team of faculty believes that teaching family nursing throughout an undergraduate nursing education is appropriate, feasible, and crucial. Additional information about curricula and learning experiences is available at http://ahn.mnsu.edu/nursing/institute/ and http://ahn.mnsu.edu/nursing/. For more information, contact IFNA member Sandra Eggenberger: [email protected]
