A master of nursing science curriculum revision for the 21st century – a progress report

BACKGROUND: Preparing a 21(st) century nursing workforce demands future-oriented curricula that address the population’s evolving health care needs. With their advanced clinical skill sets and broad scope of practice, Advanced Practice Nurses strengthen healthcare systems by providing expert care, especially to people who are older and/or have chronic diseases. Bearing this in mind, we revised our established Master of Nursing Science curriculum at the University of Basel, Switzerland. METHODS: Guided by the Advanced Nursing Practice framework, interprofessional guidelines, fundamental reports on the future of health care and the Bologna declaration, the reform process included three interrelated phases: preparation (work packages (WPs): curriculum analysis, alumni survey), revision (WPs: program accreditation, learning outcomes), and regulations (WPs: legal requirements, program launch). RESULTS: The redesigned MScN curriculum offers two specializations: ANP and research. It was implemented in the 2014 fall semester. CONCLUSIONS: This curriculum reform’s strategic approach and step-by-step processes demonstrate how, beginning with a solid conceptual basis, congruent logical steps allowed development of a program that prepares nurses for new professional roles within innovative models of care.