Benchmark - Curriculum Development Issue Paper Health, Medicine Essay

Lack of Academic Research
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Lack of Academic Research
Abstract
The lack of academic research is a significant issue within nursing curriculum development. The staff does not conduct adequate studies to identify and address critical aspects, including and not limited to career opportunities in the nursing field. This problem results in numerous issues like lack of sufficient knowledge for newly registered nurses, lack of competence in their clinical practice, and minimized or no content on vital health problems such as intellectual disability during practice. The severity of the consequences yields the need to solve the issue to ensure efficacy in curriculum development. Strategies including encouraging the staff and nurse educators to work as both educators and researchers, attaining academic excellence, and planning leadership and mentoring programs to ensure they gain substantial knowledge could help solve the problem. Eventually, they will develop a viable curriculum and pave the way to realize career opportunities in nursing.
Description of the Issue
Although nursing has existed as an academic discipline for ages, the infrastructure for nursing academic research is fragile and struggling in various countries worldwide. Hafsteinsdóttir et al. (2017) show that lack of theoretical research limits aspects like career opportunities in the field. Besides, the post-doctoral professionals developing the curriculum do not have a wide variety of information to consider in developing nursing careers. Nurse trainees entirely depend on the knowledge shared by their trainers. The lack of academic research could primarily impact their future careers. Suppose the curriculum does not offer or accommodate the required information based on the lack of academic research. In that case, the nurses will not have the essential knowledge, skills, and expertise required for their clinical practice. Research by Missen et al. (2016) reveals that an evaluation of newly registered nurses by qualified nurses showed low levels of abilities in their clinical practice. The performance level is directly proportional to the curriculum level regarding academic research levels engaged in the learning process.
While the nursing academic discipline should prepare learners well for the clinical practice, the lack of academic research results in significant detriment in the curriculum. According to Missen et al. (2016), undergraduate nursing programs do not prepare nurses adequately for their clinical work. They graduate without full equipment of knowledge in their specific fields of operation at work. Consequently, the nurses are eventually not ready for work immediately after school completion (Missen et al., 2016). Most of the knowledge and expertise is learned at work and not at school. However, they should acquire skills in the education process. While the curriculum development committees are to blame for the issue, they may not even know the problem exists because the nurses continue learning during clinical practice and eventually gain the ability to offer patients the required services during clinical practice. Thus, the problem is barely noticeable despite its significant impacts on nursing. Missen et al.'s (2016) study shows that nurses qualified by their working experience are better than new-registered nurses. The research shows that the undergraduate curriculum does not fully prepare students for clinical healthcare practice.
Impacts/Relevance of the Issue to Nursing, Staff, or Patient Education
Nursing practice is diverse. Having graduates who are not prepared for could detriment clinical practice in healthcare significantly. Booth et al. (2016) argue that nurses play both direct and indirect roles in delivering patient care. Their participation is essential in healthcare regarding quality patient care and positive outcomes in clinical practice. The failure of adequate academic research in the nursing curricul...