There are a variety of nursing curriculum standards available. These standards may differ among specific degree programs, such as university and community college curriculum, as well as areas of nursing practice. For example, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing offers standards for undergraduate and graduate study and such specialities as acute care nurse practitioner or adult-gerontology.
Undergraduate standards include a broad foundation in liberal studies (e.g., English, biological sciences, social sciences, arts and humanities), leadership and professionalism, health care technology, health policy and nursing practice. Designing an academic curriculum around these standards will ensure adequate preparation for professional practice as a registered nurse.
According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, graduate-level student nurses should follow a curriculum built around both core foundation and speciality practice courses. Core courses should include research, professionalism, health promotion, nursing theory, disease prevention and ethics. Additional graduate-level curriculum standards include focused advanced practice classes in such areas as nurse practitioner or acute care.