This LibGuides-based open textbook was created through a Textbook Transformation Grant from the University System of Georgia. The text covers an overview of nursing history, professional roles, professional education, legal and ethical considerations, evidence-based practice, caring, the culture of nursing, technology and informatics, and nursing theories. Study aids offer the potential for learners to assess their knowledge related to specific areas of nursing. Illustrations are pleasing and engage the reader. The systematic and orderly presentation of content supports ease of use. Students benefit from taking a one credit hour course prior to entering a rigorous nursing program curriculum.
Nursing textbook costs can be prohibitive for first generation college students and working adults with families. Despite the relatively low cost of the authors’ college, many students struggle to purchase required textbooks. Since all professional nursing pre-licensure programs incorporate an introduction of nursing principles, an open textbook covering this subject was written with the intent that is could be adopted by other programs throughout the United States. As an integral part of every nursing program, students must learn about professional nursing history, theories, roles and responsibilities, legal and ethical considerations, evidence-based practice, caring, licensure requirements, technology and informatics, and navigation of the health care system.
Georgia Highlands College nursing faculty realized that content saturation was becoming detrimental to student success. This phenomenon has been recognized across the nation and addressed successfully through adoption of a concept-based curriculum. Based on evidence, faculty updated the curriculum to support student outcomes. During the concept-based redesign of nursing content, a one credit-hour ‘Introduction to Nursing’ course was created to introduce pre-nursing students to the nursing profession with selected topics from traditional fundamentals of nursing courses.
The course was enriched with the OER textbook and pre-nursing students were not required to purchase an expensive 1,300-page ‘fundamental of nursing’ textbook. Feedback from students and faculty has been positive. Additionally, a focus on selected concepts prior to nursing school lessened the amount of material taught in the first semester. The authors found that students benefited from learning this required introductory content prior to entering a rigorous nursing curriculum.
Once in the program, nursing students revisit the subject matter throughout the four-semester curriculum. A simple-to-complex teaching plan allows students to build on prior learning and to retain information for the licensure exam.