A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON THE NEONATAL NURSING CURRICULUM IN IRAN AND IN MCMASTER UNIVERSITY OF CANADA

The nursing master degree programs should prepare graduate nurses to integrate
advanced theoretical, research-based, and clinical knowledge into clinical nursing practice. Since
comparing the nursing master degree programs in different universities is of key importance in
identifying their strengths and weaknesses and utilizing successful strategies and experiences, this study
aimed to compare Iranian neonatal nursing curriculum with the neonatal nursing curriculum of the
McMaster University of Canada.
Materials & Methods: This descriptive comparative study was conducted in 2018 using the Beredy
model in four steps of description, interpretation, proximity, and comparison. The comparative elements
included the philosophy, mission, vision, value, goals and objectives, Graduates' roles, entry
requirements, duration and courses, executive strategies, teaching and evaluation methods, and
accreditation.
Results: The values and goals of both master programs were based on the beliefs and values of the
community and their mission was clear. In the Iranian program, the role of neonatal nurses included the
supportive, educational, research, and management while the Canadian program did not mention the
future roles of their neonatal nurses. Also, the McMaster University provided more comprehensive and
more relevant admission requirements and postgraduate courses for the neonatal nursing program than
the similar Iranian program.
Conclusion: The results showed that the Iranian neonatal nursing program, compared to the Canadian
one in McMaster University, has mainly focused on research and has had executive failures in
organizing robust entry requirements for student admission, enriching the students’ competencies in
specialized neonatal nursing skills, and providing and securing a better position for the graduates in the
clinical settings. Therefore, we should address these deficiencies in the Iranian neonatal nursing program
to improve our curriculum and achieve better outcomes and high-quality care in the field of nursing
practice.