[Developing and standardization of quality evaluation and accreditation indicators for curricula of baccalaureate degree nursing education in Iran]

ABSTRACT

Curriculum of higher education enjoys the special prominence as transferor of information. Also it provides field for making knowledge and obtaining skills and attitudes. Therefore the quality evaluation of curricula and their updating with regard to standards are considered. Purpose of this research is to develop and standardize the quality evaluation and accreditation indicators for curricula of baccalaureate degree for nursing education. This descriptive- study was performed in three stages during 2010 to 2011. In the first and second stages, criterion and indices drafts were prepared based on the existed sources and strained by nursing and curriculum specialists. In the third stage, in order to standardization and determining the weight of elements, criterion and indicators of 93 faculty members of nursing departments were selected through relative random sampling method. Also their viewpoints toward appropriateness of proposed criterion and indicators were obtained. This study was guided to the proposal of 9 elements, 39 criterion and 143 indicators for the quality evaluation and accreditation curricula of baccalaureate degree nursing education. In this study, criterion and indicators compiled for accreditation of curriculum of baccalaureate degree nursing education have several specifications including the observation of international standards of curriculum of baccalaureate degree nursing education, consideration to all curriculum elements, observation of curriculum rules, standardization and determining the weight of elements, criterion, and indicators