Nursing Education Authority National League for Nursing Calls for Evidence-Based Standards for Changes in Nursing Education

New Position Statement Prompted by Concern about Proliferation of Mandates and Proposals from Various Groups and Organizations

May 9, 2005—New York, NY— Released today by the National League for Nursing, Transforming Nursing Education tackles head on the problem of making sweeping changes in nursing education without a strong evidence base. The NLN position statement urges nursing faculty “to base their curriculum designs, teaching/learning strategies, and evaluation methods on research rather than on politically driven pronouncements.”

“The NLN is committed to helping nursing faculty most effectively make decisions about program direction and curriculum revision,” says NLN CEO Dr. Ruth Corcoran. “Evaluation is an important element of the faculty role and we encourage nurse educators to not accept proposals blindly. Careful consideration of the research on which they are based and the implications they will have for faculty, students, and the nursing profession is imperative.”

The ten recommendations that conclude Transforming Nursing Education begin by asking all nursing organizations to “focus their calls for reform on areas that are congruent with their mission and expertise.” They also urge that "proposals regarding new options in nursing education (e.g., the creation of a new role like the clinical nurse leader or the development of the practice doctorate) and calls for the inclusion of more content on a particular topic (e.g., genetics or bioterrorism) be evidence-based.” -more-

Other recommendations ask schools of nursing to act politically to secure funding for pedagogical research; ask deans, directors, and chairpersons to provide financial resources and support to faculty whose expertise is teaching/learning and whose research is pedagogical in nature; and ask faculty whose expertise is in nursing education to take the lead in promoting innovation and moving away from a focus on content coverage.

Said NLN president Dr. Joyce P. Murray, “By issuing a statement that charges faculty with the responsibility for evidence-based decision-making, the NLN continues its tradition of encouraging excellence, supporting nursing education research, and promoting the development of the science of nursing education.”

Editors and reporters: For interview opportunities, please contact NLN communications director Karen R. Klestzick at 212-812-0376, kklestzick@nln.org.

The NLN advances quality nursing education that prepares the nursing workforce to meet the needs of diverse populations in an ever-changing health care environment.