Introduction to Basic Curriculum Work

Abstract

The two following articles deal with the first and second year of our baccalaureate curriculum at McGill University. The students come to us after two years in CEGEP, having successfully completed the Health Science (academic) core for the Health Professions. It is interesting that both articles deal with the notion of learning to nurse families. Our faculty is committed to this concept. But the tradition in nursing and the knowledge (biology and science) and the skills (comfort, safety, nutrition, etc.) that are basic to nursing do not easily or readily lead to the elaboration and specification of the knowledge, attitudes and skills needed to nurse families. Nursing and social science literature are just beginning to explore this area. We are struggling to identify strategies that will be effective in the Teaching/Learning process and that will entice the students to learn and to value working with families. At the same time we need to develop tools that can measure the outcomes of our interventions with families.