The Need to Revise and Change the Content of Home Care in Nursing Education Curriculum

DEAR EDITOR

Nursing education as a part of the higher education system is developing in recent years in the world, and the competence of the graduates in response to the needs of society is one of the main goals of the nursing education curriculum. ¹ Over the coming years, the health system will be influenced by various factors such as the aging of the population and the issue of epidemiological displacement, emergence of re-emerging and emerging diseases, and, as a result, increased health care costs. ² For cost-effective care, several health care interventions can be effectively performed in society or at home. ³ During the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for home care increased. Despite many challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic imposed on the health systems, the pandemic was an opportunity that led to the development of some capabilities in many countries, including the development of home care services. Home care services can act as a support for health services and reduce the burden on the health system. ⁴

In the curriculum of nursing education in Iran, in the home care nursing unit, a limited provision of nursing care for common disorders of metabolic systems, blood circulation, breathing, accidents, and trauma in medical centers and at home are considered; ⁵ these are included in the adult and elderly nursing curriculum courses and taught as a prerequisite for this unit or offered simultaneously with this unit. In this curriculum, less attention has been paid to providing comprehensive home care nursing for the health needs of individuals, families, and communities at different levels of prevention and management of physical, mental, and social problems by individuals and family caregivers to promote a healthy lifestyle. Therefore, given the importance of home care in the future years, it is necessary to revise and change the content of home care in the nursing education curriculum; also, a comprehensive model should be used in the education of nursing students. The health care model based on society and home is an integrated care system that should be seriously taken into consideration to assure better access to more effective and efficient health care, improve the clients’ health, and enhance their self-care. ⁶ Designing an educational curriculum based on the needs of society is very important in improving the role of nurses, helping them to provide high-quality and better cost-effective services. In line with changing health needs, the development of home care services is necessary. Therefore, in the home nursing care course, it seems necessary to consider the principles of home-centered care and comprehensive education according to the local and cultural conditions of the society.

Designing and developing home nursing courses by using comprehensive models including the comprehensive community home-based care model that has been presented by the World Health Organization with the help of a multidisciplinary working group of family and community health, infectious and non-infectious disease and mental health groups is necessary to develop nursing services in the community. This model was designed as an integrated care system to meet the needs of people, families, and societies at different prevention levels in local and native environments; in terms of practicality, it was thoroughly reviewed and developed by the national authorities of Southeast Asian countries including Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, and Thailand. The goals of the model include the promotion of a healthy lifestyle and prevention of diseases by motivating and supporting people to resist health risks; improve self-care habits in individuals, families, and societies; increase appropriate health-seeking behaviors in society; manage the consequences of diseases in society by reducing health costs and referral to health centers and long-term care centers; and support informal caregivers including family members by providing them with knowledge, skills, resources, and emotional support to continue care at home. ⁶ Including the above-mentioned points in nursing home care undergraduate courses for nursing students and localizing this model based on guidelines and clinical standards that are appropriate to the native culture of different countries, including Iran, can play an important role in developing students’ and graduates’ skills required for providing effective and efficient home-based health care in society.

Conflict of Interest:

None declared.

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