3: Incorporating into Nursing Curriculum

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Dawn M. Bowker and Karla S. Kerkove
Iowa State University via Iowa State University Digital Press

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Calls to Transform Nursing Education

AACN® Essentials

In 2021, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) re-envisioned The Essentials and newly identified the domain of population health as an essential component in undergraduate and graduate nursing education, further focusing on the concept of SDOH (AACN, 2021). Additionally, AACN recognizes SDOH are closely interrelated with the concepts of diversity, equity, inclusion, health policy, and communication. Resources have been developed to enhance SDOH concepts within nursing curricula, including recommendations for integrating SDOH learning and assessment strategies, exemplars, and recommended content for entry-level and advanced-level students. You may access the tool kit here: https://www.aacnnursing.org/essentia...i/c_social_det

AACN® Spheres of Care

Evolving healthcare needs require nursing education to meet the needs of our dynamic, global, and diverse population. Historically, nursing education has focused efforts primarily in acute care settings. However, future emphasis should focus on spheres of care addressing a broader spectrum of care. AACN identifies the four spheres of care as 1) disease prevention/promotion of health and well-being, 2) chronic disease care, 3) regenerative or restorative care, and 4) hospice/palliative/supportive care (AACN, 2021).

Demonstrating competence through practice experiences with individuals, families, communities, and aggregates across the lifespan and within each of the four spheres of care is needed to holistically prepare nursing students. The future workforce needs nurses who can practice in diverse settings, including community settings. Table 3.1 provides exemplar categories for each sphere of care.

TABLE 3.1 Spheres of Care (Table Source: American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2021)
Sphere Of Care	Exemplar Categories
Disease Prevention/Promotion of Health & Well-Being	Promotion of physical and mental health in clients across the lifespan Management of minor acute and intermittent care needs of generally healthy clients
Chronic Disease Care	Chronic disease Prevention of negative sequelae
Regenerative or Restorative Care	Critical/trauma care Complex acute care Acute exacerbations of chronic conditions Treatment of physiologically unstable clients
Hospice/ Palliative/ Supportive Care	End-of-life care Palliative and supportive care for clients requiring extended care Individuals with complex, chronic diseases Clients requiring rehabilitative care

National Council State Boards of Nursing

The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) has put in place multiple initiatives toward the goal of achieving health equity (NCSBN, 2021). Moving forward, it is essential for the licensing exam to contain questions that assess a nurse’s ability to address SDOH, the needs of clients and communities, and appropriately respond to public health emergencies and disasters (NCSBN, 2021). In this workbook, each case study contains six frames, outlining layer three of the NCSBN Clinical Judgment Measurement Model® (NCJMM). Additional contextual elements are realistically and intentionally brought into the case studies to further enhance layer four of the NCJMM.