Academic Affairs and Programs

August 13, 2024

Curriculum redesign, enrollment trends and a continuing commitment to offering a high-quality nursing education

an undergraduate student works on a skill in the clinical learning center — For the 2023-24 academic year, the VCU School of Nursing saw strong enrollment and undertook major curriculum revisions to align with new educational standards and recommendations developed by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.

During the 2023-2024 academic year, the VCU School of Nursing made significant strides in curriculum redesign and program approvals to enhance its educational offerings and align with current professional standards. These updates are critical for maintaining the quality of educational offerings and ensuring that the school's programs meet the latest nursing competencies and requirements.

Curriculum redesign

In order to more closely align with the recommendations set forth in the Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education developed by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), the school's faculty conducted comprehensive curriculum reviews, resulting in the revision of both the Traditional B.S. and RN to B.S. curricula. These revisions received approvals and will be implemented in the upcoming year.

The Ph.D. program also underwent curriculum updates based on the AACN's recommendations. These revisions are undergoing final approvals. The school's graduate practice programs, including the D.N.P., Master’s, and Post-Professional Certificate programs, also saw a comprehensive curriculum redesign. Proposed changes were accepted by the school's graduate practice program curriculum subcommittee and endorsed by the faculty assembly, with planned implementation in upcoming years. Of particular note, the educational pathway for all graduate practice programs now follows the Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) degree, highlighting the school's progressive approach to nursing education.

an infographic showing an icon of a hand writing and the text 940 students enrolled, a stethoscope and the text 697 preceptors, a handshake icon and the text new academic-practice partnership, and a grad cap and the text 298 new graduates

Enrollment

The school maintained steady enrollment numbers for 2023-24, welcoming 940 students in total. The undergraduate program saw an increase in admissions, with the traditional baccalaureate program increasing from 130 to 140 students. The RN to B.S. program remained steady, demonstrating an ongoing interest and dedication to providing quality education pathways. Despite minor changes in some graduate programs, the overall stability in enrollment underscores the school's enduring appeal and strength in its academic offerings.

Academic-Practice Partnership

In 2023-24, the School of Nursing (SON) and VCU Health System (VCUHS) came together over two meetings to formalize the academic-practice partnership. Discussions solidified the shared commitment for a mutually beneficial partnership, define the structure, and identify joint initiatives. Taskforces were created around recruiting students to the SON and graduates to VCUHS and optimizing clinical placements for students in VCUHS.