ABSTRACT
Background and Aim: As a key element of nursing education, the curriculum plays a fundamental role in empowering students and improving the quality of health care. Given the social, cultural, and technological changes in recent decades, reviewing and comparing nursing educational programs has gained particular importance. Therefore, given the importance of this approach, the present study aims to compare the Master’s program in Nursing in Iran with that of Duke University.
Materials and Methods: This descriptive-comparative study employed the Brady model to compare the Iranian Pediatric Nursing Master's Program with that of Duke University in the United States. Data were collected from official sources, including the website of the Iranian Ministry of Health and the Duke University School of Nursing. Analysis was conducted in four stages: description, interpretation, juxtaposition, and comparison.
Results: Findings of study indicated that while both universities aim to prepare competent nurses committed to providing high-quality care, but the scope and focus were different. The Iranian program focuses more on family-centered care, clinical skills, and ethical values, whereas Duke University emphasizes health equity, research, innovation, and the preparation of nurses for independent leadership and advanced clinical roles. Admission and training in Iran are primarily exam-based and delivered face-to-face, while Duke University employs a multidimensional and flexible approach. Moreover, the professional autonomy and occupational status of nurses in Iran are more restricted.
Conclusion: The Iranian Pediatric Nursing Master's Program as the same as Master’s Program of Duke University demonstrates strengths in clinical education but requires greater emphasis on flexibility, social justice, cultural diversity, leadership skills, and professional autonomy. Integrating the strengths of both the Iranian and Duke University programs could lead to the development of a comprehensive, internationally relevant, and balanced curriculum in pediatric nursing.
Keywords: pediatric nursing, master's program, comparative study, curriculum, Duke University, nursing education
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