Foundational Courses for the Baccalaureate Nursing Degree: Enhancing Efficiency for Academic Progression

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The Institute of Medicine recommendation for a more educated nursing workforce has triggered significant activity in the area of academic profession, particularly in pre- and postlicensure baccalaureate nursing education. Many innovative academic progression models involving universities and community colleges have emerged. Among the most common barriers to this effort are inconsistent prerequisite course requirements. METHOD: A workgroup convened to discuss commonalities and differences of general education and prerequisite course work and propose core prerequisite coursework for the baccalaureate nursing degree. RESULTS: A course menu strategy for foundational baccalaureate nursing courses was proposed that includes four general course categories with credit ranges and common courses or content for each category. The four proposed foundational course categories are general education, basic sciences, social sciences, and human sciences. CONCLUSION: A need exists to reduce barriers affecting academic progression. The foundational course approach proposed has potential to reduce some of these barriers. [J Nurs Educ. 2016;55(7):373-378.].