Collaboration and engagement when planning a person-centred undergraduate nursing curriculum

Background: The undergraduate curriculum at Ulster University is underpinned by a person-centred philosophy (McCormack and McCance, 2019) providing a platform for integrating the NMC (2018) standards for education which advocates person centredness within pre-registration curricula.

Approach: Key strategies in designing the 2020 curriculum, embraced collaboration, co-production and stakeholder engagement. Engagement events informed curriculum planning, stakeholders were facilitated to participate and create the evolving curriculum, central to this was establishing spaces that were collaborative, safe and creative. Clear and transparent communication enabled a deeper understanding of roles, with open interactive discussions leading to a re-imagined person-centred curriculum.

Impact: Authentic collaborative engagement was key to successful development of a person-centred curriculum. Establishing a People Engagement in Education and Research group (PEER) was part of this process, continuing to contribute to curriculum development alongside a strengthened student partnership. Healthful relationships were established with practice partners and external stakeholders ensuring partnership and ongoing curriculum review to respond to changing health service needs. Excellent NSS satisfaction scores (87% Adult and 91% Mental Health students, 2022) indicate student satisfaction with the curriculum.

The future: Focus will be on advancing sustained collaboration with the PEER group, stakeholders, and supporting academics in person-centred curricula and nurturing partnership with students.