Conceptual Frameworks

The growing movement toward specialty certification in nursing has resulted in an increased demand for continuing education that supports specific areas of specialty practice and certification status. In examining a number of the specialty practice core curricula documents, it is evident that there is a tendency to organize nursing content using the medical model as a framework. A method by which core curricula for specialty practice are organized and developed from a distinctly nursing perspective is needed. The authors suggest that conceptual frameworks, developed by nurses who are expert in a specific clinical practice area, are a practical method for the development of such curricula.