A comparative study of Iran's Undergraduate Nursing Education System with the School of Maryland, USA 2023

Imani A; Asadizaker M

doi:10.18502/jmed.v18i3.14128

Imani A PhD Student, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Student Research Committee, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
Asadizaker M Associate Professor, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Nursing Care Research Center in Chronic Diseases, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jmed.v18i3.14128

Keywords: Comparative study, Bachelor Science of Nursing, curriculum, Educational Plan

Abstract

Introduction: Educational institutions as implementers of the educational system must react to the changes in their surrounding environment to be able to interact with the environment; and provide quality education based on the needs of society. This study was conducted to compare the undergraduate nursing program in Iran and the nursing school of the University of Maryland, USA.

Methods: The present study is a descriptive-comparative study that was conducted in the 2023 year by searching the Persian and English keywords: Curriculum, Nursing, Nursing Education, and Educational Plan in databases. We used curriculums which were downloaded from the website of the Iranian Ministry of Health, Treatment, and Medical Education and the website of the University of Maryland, USA. To compare the approach of George F. Brady was carried out in four stages: Description, Interpretation, Juxtaposition, and Comparison.

Results: The bachelor of nursing program in Iran and the university of Maryland in the United States deferred in the way of admission to the field, perspective, research-based approach, and variety of values. Also, they were similar in terms of the lack of specialized interview in entering the field, early presence in the clinical environment, diversity in teaching strategies, and the use of various basic science courses.

Conclusion: this comparison is an opportunity to identify and eliminate the weakness of Iran's nursing curriculum and empowerment of its strengths. It is a necessit to pay more attention to research activities in the undergraduate nursing curriculum in Iran.