Should nurses' undergraduate training be in the humanities?

摘要

Speaking about educational standards, Dr Margaret McClure once said to me, "Nursing has continually raised the ceiling, but never raised the floor." Accelerated programs have raised the floor for some nurses, bringing a diversity of career-oriented students with maturity and rich life experience into nursing. Although outcomes data from these programs are lacking, the early evidence is promising. Nurse practitioners have brought about monumental change in nursing education and practice, most recently with the DNP. I challenge us now to advance our profession once again by requiring a baccalaureate degree in the humanities for entry into practice.