The Impact of External Factors Consider the following scenario: Linda has been a nurse educator at LiveWell Medical Center for about 3 years. Since taking over the position, she has received many accolades for the new evidence-based practices she has shared in nurse trainings. Linda is now looking to turn her attention to patient education. She hopes to initiate bimonthly sessions that will help current and recently discharged patients to better manage their health and/or cope with difficult health issues. At Linda’s next meeting with LiveWell’s board of trustees, she confidently shares her proposal for this new program. At once, she is taken aback at their dismissive responses. “That sounds great Linda, but we simply do not have time to implement something of that caliber here. And how do you know if patients would even be interested in such a service?” Over the next hour, Linda contemplates these comments and realizes that, despite her best intentions, there was some truth to their remarks. Linda had initially been inspired to create this program after reading about a large rehabilitation center in San Antonio, Texas. The center had revolutionized their outpatient process, helping to demonstrate strong commitment to the community. Though it worked well in San Antonio, Linda had not conducted any preliminary research to learn if it could be effective in their small town of Pinedale, Wyoming. What external factors should Linda have investigated before trying to develop such a program? In addition, how could these factors continue to impact her program if the LiveWell board of trustees approves her idea? To prepare: · Review this week’s readings, specifically Chapter 6, “External Frame Factors,” in the Keating text and Chapter 5, “Forces and Issues Influencing Curriculum Development,” in the Billings course text. Reflect on the various external factors that can impact the way curriculum is developed, assessed, and evaluated. Then, consider whether certain factors influence institutions (academic settings) more or less than they do agencies (clinical settings). · Select one external factor from the following list to further explore for your Discussion posting: Community Population demographics and trends Political climate and body politic Societal patterns Health care system and health needs of the population Characteristics of the setting Need for the program Nursing profession Financial support · Consider how this factor might impact curriculum development, assessment, and evaluation in your own academic or clinical setting or in one with which you are familiar. In addition, conduct research to explore how this factor might impact nursing education as a whole. Note: Although accreditation is considered an important external factor, it is not listed as a factor for this week’s Discussion, as it will be the focus for next week’s Discussion. Questions to be addressed in my paper: 1. A description of the external factor you selected. 2. .

1. The Impact of External Factors
Consider the following scenario:
Linda has been a nurse educator at LiveWell Medical Center for
about 3 years. Since taking over the position, she has received
many accolades for the new evidence-based practices she has
shared in nurse trainings. Linda is now looking to turn her
attention to patient education. She hopes to initiate bimonthly
sessions that will help current and recently discharged patients
to better manage their health and/or cope with difficult health
issues. At Linda’s next meeting with LiveWell’s board of
trustees, she confidently shares her proposal for this new
program. At once, she is taken aback at their dismissive
responses. “That sounds great Linda, but we simply do not have
time to implement something of that caliber here. And how do
you know if patients would even be interested in such a
service?”
Over the next hour, Linda contemplates these comments and
realizes that, despite her best intentions, there was some truth to
their remarks. Linda had initially been inspired to create this
program after reading about a large rehabilitation center in San
Antonio, Texas. The center had revolutionized their outpatient
process, helping to demonstrate strong commitment to the
community. Though it worked well in San Antonio, Linda had
not conducted any preliminary research to learn if it could be
effective in their small town of Pinedale, Wyoming.
What external factors should Linda have investigated before
trying to develop such a program? In addition, how could these
factors continue to impact her program if the LiveWell board of
trustees approves her idea?
To prepare:
·
Review this week’s readings, specifically Chapter 6, “External
Frame Factors,” in the Keating text and Chapter 5, “Forces and

2. Issues Influencing Curriculum Development,” in the Billings
course text. Reflect on the various external factors that can
impact the way curriculum is developed, assessed, and
evaluated. Then, consider whether certain factors influence
institutions (academic settings) more or less than they do
agencies (clinical settings).
·
Select one external factor from the following list to further
explore for your Discussion posting:
Community
Population demographics and trends
Political climate and body politic
Societal patterns
Health care system and health needs of the population
Characteristics of the setting
Need for the program
Nursing profession
Financial support
·
Consider how this factor might impact curriculum development,
assessment, and evaluation in your own academic or clinical
setting or in one with which you are familiar. In addition,
conduct research to explore how this factor might impact
nursing education as a whole.
Note:
Although accreditation is considered an important external
factor, it is not listed as a factor for this week’s Discussion, as
it will be the focus for next week’s Discussion.
Questions to be addressed in my paper:
1.

3. A description of the external factor you selected.
2.
Explain how this factor might impact curriculum development,
assessment, and evaluation in an academic or clinical setting
with which you are familiar.
3.
Share at least one authentic insight into how this factor might
also impact nursing education as a whole.
REMINDERS:
1)
1-2 pages (addressing the 3 questions above excluding the title
page and reference page).
2)
Kindly follow APA format for the citation and references!
References should be between the period of 2011 and 2016.
Please utilize the references at least three below as much as
possible and the rest from yours.
3)
Make headings for each question.
References
Billings, D. M., & Halstead, J. A. (2016).
Teaching in nursing: A guide for faculty
(5th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.
Chapter 5, “Forces and Issues Influencing Curriculum
Development” (pp.73–88)

4. Chapter 5 explores the diverse external, internal, and higher
education issues that can influence the development of nursing
curricula. Broad considerations are given, as well as strategies
nurse educators can use to analyze current social contexts to
align nursing curricula to future global trends.
Chapter 16, “Multicultural Education in Nursing” (pp. 263–281)
Chapter 16 addresses the increased diversity of nursing
students. Instructional strategies, approaches to creating an
inclusive environment for all learners, and positive learning
outcomes are discussed.
Keating, S. B. (Ed.). (2015).
Curriculum development and evaluation in nursing
(3rd ed.). New York, NY: Springer.
Section III: Needs Assessment and Financial Support for
Curriculum Development (pp. 107–110)
This introduction to Section III provides an overview on nursing
curriculum development. The author provides this information
through external and internal frame factors and relates it to the
total management of the curriculum.
Chapter 6, "External Frame Factors" (pp. 111–144)
In Chapter 6, Keating describes how to perform a needs
assessment and the importance of identifying external frame
factors.
Chapter 18 “Effects of Informatics and Technology on
Curriculum Development and Evaluation” (pp. 395–416)
Chapter 18 highlights how technologies are being integrated
into nursing education and the health care field.

5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2012a).
Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/
At this website, you can investigate various health statistics
broken down by regions of the United States. For example, if
you select “Data & Statistics” under the heading “Health &
Safety Topics,” this will bring you to a web page that presents a
wide range of health topics. Select any of these topics to view
more information about its regional and demographic impact or
to access studies related to the topic.
CDC. (2012c). Morbidity and mortality weekly report.
Retrieved from
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/international/relres.html
At the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality website, you can select
any region or state that you would like to investigate further.
These links take you directly to your selected state’s
Department of Health website, allowing you to explore health
services of any community within that state.
McCawley, P. F. (2009).
Methods for c
onducting an educational needs assessment: Guidelines for
cooperative extension system professionals
. Retrieved from
http://www.cals.uidaho.edu/edcomm/pdf/BUL/BUL0870.pdf
This document provides an in-depth example of how needs
assessments can be conducted from start to finish. Use the Table
of Contents on page 2 to explore specific needs assessment
components that you or your team may need further clarification
on.

6. National Historical Geographic Information System. (n.d.).
Retrieved October 29, 2012, from https://www.nhgis.org/