Comparison of Undergraduate Nursing Education in Iran and George Washington University

Introduction: The strategic plans of nursing are in line with training the nurses that are able to make positive changes in the caring environment and to improve the life quality of individuals, families, and community. Each country has different methods of nursing education, which are rooted in its customs and traditions. Comparing different educational systems promotes the content and quality of the curriculum. This study performed a comparative study of nursing education in Iran and George Washington University.

Methods: This comparative study was conducted in 2016 to compare the constituents of Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program in Iran and George Washington University in the United States. The Beredy model was used to compare the collected data, which encompasses description, interpretation, juxtaposition, and comparison.

Results: Although nursing education in Iran is mostly influenced by education models in the United States, the two countries have major differences in their nursing education system. BSN in Iran is a four-year program and has a semester system. The students are selected from among the candidates of experimental sciences through a nationwide university entrance examination. In all universities across Iran, one curriculum is presented, and there is limited flexibility in the program due to environmental conditions, while BSN in the United States has a two-year program, and student admission regulations are formulated independently by each university. The number of compulsory units is 130 units in Iran and 180 units in the United States.

Conclusion: The nursing curricula in Iran and George Washington University have differences and similarities. Thus, considering the cultural, social, historical and economic differences, comparing them can be helpful to solve the problems and challenges in nursing education.