Conceptual Framework
The conceptual framework of the Programme as shown in Figure 2 looks like an upside-down cone, presenting the educational ideology of “From Personhood to Benevolence” developing through a vertical axis from bottom to top. As embodied by this person-centered Programme, the orange cone represents the person-centred within the nursing conceptual framework of health, nursing, education and environment on the aims and objectives of developing students’ core competences. The client includes individual, family and community while the word “personhood” shown on the bottom side is also representing that the Programme is student-oriented. Study subjects are designed on basis of life cycle (Childbearing, Child and Adolescent, Adult, Gerontology) to go through a dynamic process, from healthy to diseased and back to healthy again, which has been carrying forward the person-centred educational ideology.
The green spiral symbolizes the different environments where students are experiencing personal development at each learning stage through the interaction between the Programme and society, describing the development of science and technology and the changes of humanistic environments while encouraging an awareness of environmental protection.
The upper blue section indicates that upon completion of study each student can grow into a nurse equipping with six core competences, including “benevolent” character and nursing care, communication and cooperation, law and ethics, management, professional development and personal development, showing that person-centred nursing should involve such aspects as benevolence, caring, knowledge, skills, continuity of learning and scientific thinking.
The curriculum design as shown in the figure gives a fundamental framework composed of five philosophies of nursing. All study subjects are required to develop within this conceptual framework. The cone shape which goes from the narrow bottom to the widened top also indicates the orderly-proceeding principles of the Programme design: from typical to extraordinary, from simple to complicated, from general to specialist, from theory to practice. Students are taught to apply their knowledge, skills, judgement and decision-making competence acquired in accordance with nursing procedures to provide corresponding nursing services for clients that are considered the most appropriate to match cultural background and to meet ethical needs.
Figure 2: Conceptual Framework of Bachelor of Science in Nursing Programme