Leading the Change Process: Designing an Innovative Upper Division BSN Curriculum

Abstract

(41st Biennial Convention) Addressing the work of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Dr. Patricia Benner and the Robert Wood Johnson New Careers in Nursing Initiative to transform nursing education, Felician College recently completed a 2 year process of redesigning its traditional BSN 4-year Prelicensure Program to an Upper Division Program to be implemented fall 2011.� The Dean's role in leading the Curriculum Redesign Committee (CRC) was significant in terms of incorporating leadership and change theory into the process. The CRC committee included senior and junior undergraduate and graduate faculty with varying degrees of academic and educational experience. Components of the consensus model enabled the group to move from status quo to futuristic thinking and decision-making. The work of the late Dr. Russell L. Ackoff from the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania, was instrumental in applying systems thinking and visioning the future.� The presentation describes the Dean's role in leading and managing the successful redesign process which included the setting of mutual goals, overcoming group work challenges and the humanistic struggles of decision reaching and the redesigned upper division curriculum plan. Important to this process was the utilization of operational research, information sources, survey data, etc. Tools were developed to ensure a reliable data base for the group to consider when looking at curriculum options. Additionally, administrative and academic student progression and graduation issues particular to the college were addressed within the design of the Upper Division Program.� The redesign included both general education and nursing requirements. New course content was added, some courses were eliminated, and other courses were either increased or reduced in credit resulting in no change in the number of course credits to successfully complete the program.� Innovations include the clinical nursing residency, a nursing colloquium and a nursing honors track.