WHO Global Standards

5 Key Areas for Global Standards Program graduates Program graduates Program development and revision Program development and revision Program curriculum Program curriculum Academic faculty and staff Academic faculty and staff Program admission Program admission

1.0 Program Graduates 1.1 Outcomes 1.1 Outcomes Demonstrate established competencies in nursing Demonstrate established competencies in nursing Demonstrate sound understanding of determinants of health Demonstrate sound understanding of determinants of health Meet regulatory body standards leading to licensure as a nurse Meet regulatory body standards leading to licensure as a nurse

1.0 Program Graduates 1.1 Outcomes (continued) 1.1 Outcomes (continued) Is awarded a professional degree Is awarded a professional degree Is eligible for entrance into advanced education programs Is eligible for entrance into advanced education programs School employs methods to track professional success and progression of education for each graduate School employs methods to track professional success and progression of education for each graduate

1.0 Program Graduate 1.2 Attributes 1.2 Attributes Knowledgeable practitioners who adhere to code of ethics and standards of the profession Knowledgeable practitioners who adhere to code of ethics and standards of the profession Nursing school graduates who demonstrate: Nursing school graduates who demonstrate: - evidence-based practice - evidence-based practice - cultural competency - cultural competency - ability to practice within health care systems of country and meet population needs - ability to practice within health care systems of country and meet population needs

1.0 Program Graduate 1.2 Attributes (continued) 1.2 Attributes (continued) (continued) (continued) - Critical and analytical thinking - Critical and analytical thinking - Ability to manage resources and - Ability to manage resources and practice safely and effectively practice safely and effectively - Ability to be effective client - Ability to be effective client advocates and professional advocates and professional partners with other disciplines in partners with other disciplines in health-care delivery health-care delivery

1.0 Program Graduate 1.2 Attributes (continued) 1.2 Attributes (continued) (continued) (continued) - Community service orientation - Community service orientation - Leadership ability and continual professional development - Leadership ability and continual professional development

2.0 Program Development/Revision 2.1 Governance 2.1 Governance School defines and makes public their mission, vision and objectives School defines and makes public their mission, vision and objectives School educates their students through the program to meet the health care needs of their society School educates their students through the program to meet the health care needs of their society School clearly defines the educational and clinical outcomes of the program School clearly defines the educational and clinical outcomes of the program

2.0 Program Development/Revision 2.1 Governance (continued) 2.1 Governance (continued) School’s faculty have relevant expertise in the subject matter and the ability to develop and revise their program School’s faculty have relevant expertise in the subject matter and the ability to develop and revise their program School has in place and uses a system of formulative and summative assessment of the program’s educational & clinical objectives, & outcomes School has in place and uses a system of formulative and summative assessment of the program’s educational & clinical objectives, & outcomes

2.0 Program Development/Revision 2.1 Governance (continued) 2.1 Governance (continued) School defines role descriptions for theoretical and clinical educators, including, but not limited to, faculty, clinical supervisors, mentors, preceptors, and teachers School defines role descriptions for theoretical and clinical educators, including, but not limited to, faculty, clinical supervisors, mentors, preceptors, and teachers

2.0 Program Development/Revision 2.2 Accreditation: 2.2 Accreditation: School is an integral part of a higher education institution that meets internal standards, recognized accreditation, and/or governing body requirements School is an integral part of a higher education institution that meets internal standards, recognized accreditation, and/or governing body requirements Schools have criteria in place that meet accreditation standards for clinical practice components of their program, academic content and the demonstration of professional outcomes Schools have criteria in place that meet accreditation standards for clinical practice components of their program, academic content and the demonstration of professional outcomes.

2.0 Program Development/Revision 2.2 Accreditation (continued) 2.2 Accreditation (continued) School and their programs are recognized or accredited by credible, relevant professional and academic bodies and re- accredited as required School and their programs are recognized or accredited by credible, relevant professional and academic bodies and re- accredited as required.

2.0 Program Development/Revision 2.3 Infrastructure 2.3 Infrastructure School has accessible, current and relevant physical facilities including, but not limited to, classrooms, clinical practice sites, information and communications technology, clinical simulation laboratories and libraries School has accessible, current and relevant physical facilities including, but not limited to, classrooms, clinical practice sites, information and communications technology, clinical simulation laboratories and libraries.

2.0 Program Development/Revision 2.3 Infrastructure (continued) 2.3 Infrastructure (continued) Schools have a system and policy in place ensures the safety and welfare of students and faculty Schools have a system and policy in place ensures the safety and welfare of students and faculty Schools have professional support personnel and human resources to meet program and student demand Schools have professional support personnel and human resources to meet program and student demand.

2.0 Program Development/Revision 2.3 Infrastructure (continued) 2.3 Infrastructure (continued) School has a budget allocation and budget control that meets program faculty and student needs School has a budget allocation and budget control that meets program faculty and student needs School has a system in place for student-support services School has a system in place for student-support services

2.0 Program Development/Revision 2.4 Partnerships 2.4 Partnerships School demonstrates successful partnerships with the academic institution where their program is located, with other disciplines, with clinical practice sites, with clinical and professional organizations and with international partners School demonstrates successful partnerships with the academic institution where their program is located, with other disciplines, with clinical practice sites, with clinical and professional organizations and with international partners.

3.0 Program Curriculum 3.1 Curriculum Design 3.1 Curriculum Design School designs curricula and deliver program that take into account workforce planning flows and national and international health care policies School designs curricula and deliver program that take into account workforce planning flows and national and international health care policies.

3.0 Program Curriculum 3.1 Curriculum Design (continued) 3.1 Curriculum Design (continued) School plans and designs curricula to meet national and international education criteria, and professional and regulatory requirements for practice School plans and designs curricula to meet national and international education criteria, and professional and regulatory requirements for practice.

3.0 Program Curriculum 3.1 Curriculum Design (continued) 3.1 Curriculum Design (continued) school provides classroom and clinical learning that delivers the knowledge and skills required to meet the needs of their respective populations school provides classroom and clinical learning that delivers the knowledge and skills required to meet the needs of their respective populations School establishes and demonstrates balance between the theory and practice components of the curriculum School establishes and demonstrates balance between the theory and practice components of the curriculum.

3.0 Program Curriculum 3.1 Curriculum Design (continued) 3.1 Curriculum Design (continued) School demonstrates use of recognized approaches to teaching and learning in their programs, including, but not limited to, adult education, self-directed learning, School demonstrates use of recognized approaches to teaching and learning in their programs, including, but not limited to, adult education, self-directed learning, e-learning and clinical simulation. e-learning and clinical simulation.

3.0 Program Curriculum 3.1 Curriculum Design (continued) 3.1 Curriculum Design (continued) School provides classroom and clinical learning based on established competencies and grounded in the most current, reliable evidence School provides classroom and clinical learning based on established competencies and grounded in the most current, reliable evidence School enables the development of clinical reasoning, problem solving and critical thinking in their program School enables the development of clinical reasoning, problem solving and critical thinking in their program.

3.0 Program Curriculum 3.1 Curriculum Design (continued) 3.1 Curriculum Design (continued) School conducts regular evaluations of curricula and clinical learning, and include student, client, stakeholder and partner feedback School conducts regular evaluations of curricula and clinical learning, and include student, client, stakeholder and partner feedback Program offers opportunities for multidisciplinary content and learning experiences Program offers opportunities for multidisciplinary content and learning experiences.

3.0 Program Curriculum 3.2 Core Curriculum 3.2 Core Curriculum Nursing curricula provide core content that will enable their graduates to meet the established competencies Nursing curricula provide core content that will enable their graduates to meet the established competencies Nursing Curricula provide core content in nursing theory, practice, interventions and scope of practice Nursing Curricula provide core content in nursing theory, practice, interventions and scope of practice (midwifery standard) (midwifery standard) Nursing programs provide supervised clinical learning experiences that support nursing theory in diverse settings Nursing programs provide supervised clinical learning experiences that support nursing theory in diverse settings.

3.0 Program Curriculum 3.3 Curriculum Partnerships 3.3 Curriculum Partnerships Nursing schools develop partnerships with other healthcare disciplines Nursing schools develop partnerships with other healthcare disciplines Nursing schools use interprofessional teamwork approaches in their classrooms and clinical learning experiences Nursing schools use interprofessional teamwork approaches in their classrooms and clinical learning experiences Nursing schools have access to, and arrangements for, the clinical learning sites required for program delivery Nursing schools have access to, and arrangements for, the clinical learning sites required for program delivery.

3.0 Program Curriculum 3.4 Assessment of Students 3.4 Assessment of Students Nursing schools assess student learning, knowledge and skill development throughout their programs, using reliable evaluation methodologies Nursing schools assess student learning, knowledge and skill development throughout their programs, using reliable evaluation methodologies Nursing schools use a variety of methods to assess the subject matter being studied including, but not limited to, student performance-based assessment and client/stakeholder feedback Nursing schools use a variety of methods to assess the subject matter being studied including, but not limited to, student performance-based assessment and client/stakeholder feedback.

3.0 Program Curriculum 3.0 Program Curriculum 3.4 Assessment of Students (cont.) 3.4 Assessment of Students (cont.) Nursing schools have student retention systems in place Nursing schools have student retention systems in place.

4.0 Faculty 4.1 Academic Faculty 4.1 Academic Faculty The head of a nursing program is a nurse who holds a graduate degree, is educated and experienced in leadership and administration, and demonstrates knowledge as an educator The head of a nursing program is a nurse who holds a graduate degree, is educated and experienced in leadership and administration, and demonstrates knowledge as an educator The core academic faculty are nurses and midwives who demonstrate The core academic faculty are nurses and midwives who demonstrate knowledge as educators and have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree – knowledge as educators and have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree – preferably a graduate degree – with advanced preparation and clinical competency in their specialty area. preferably a graduate degree – with advanced preparation and clinical competency in their specialty area.

4.0 Faculty 4.1 Academic Faculty 4.1 Academic Faculty Other health professionals who are guest lecturers in nursing or midwifery programs hold a graduate degree and possess clinical and Other health professionals who are guest lecturers in nursing or midwifery programs hold a graduate degree and possess clinical and educational expertise in their specialty. educational expertise in their specialty.

4.0 Faculty 4.2 Clinical Faculty 4.2 Clinical Faculty Clinical faculty comprises nurses, midwives and other health professionals who hold a minimum of a university degree and possess clinical and educational expertise in their specialty area Clinical faculty comprises nurses, midwives and other health professionals who hold a minimum of a university degree and possess clinical and educational expertise in their specialty area Nurses and midwives with clinical expertise in the content area being Nurses and midwives with clinical expertise in the content area being taught are designated to supervise and teach students in that clinical taught are designated to supervise and teach students in that clinical practice area. practice area.

4.0 Faculty (continued) 4.2 Clinical Faculty (continued) 4.2 Clinical Faculty (continued) Nursing schools form partnerships to secure a variety of qualified people to be clinical supervisors and teachers Nursing schools form partnerships to secure a variety of qualified people to be clinical supervisors and teachers.

4.0 Faculty (continued) 4.3 Professional Development of Faculty 4.3 Professional Development of Faculty Nursing schools have a policy and system in place that validates Nursing schools have a policy and system in place that validates the updated clinical and educational expertise and competency of faculty. the updated clinical and educational expertise and competency of faculty Nursing schools have a system in place that provides faculty with opportunities for development in teaching, scholarship, practice and external professional activity Nursing schools have a system in place that provides faculty with opportunities for development in teaching, scholarship, practice and external professional activity.

4.0 Faculty (continued) 4.3 Professional Development of Faculty (continued) 4.3 Professional Development of Faculty (continued) Nursing schools have a system and policy in place and provide time and resources for competency development for staff Nursing schools have a system and policy in place and provide time and resources for competency development for staff Nursing schools have a policy and system in place for reward and recognition of staff in accordance with the requirements for promotion and tenure of the institution Nursing schools have a policy and system in place for reward and recognition of staff in accordance with the requirements for promotion and tenure of the institution.

5.0 Program Admission 5.1 Admission Policy & Selection 5.1 Admission Policy & Selection Nursing schools have a transparent admission policy that specifies the process of student selection and the minimum acceptance criteria Nursing schools have a transparent admission policy that specifies the process of student selection and the minimum acceptance criteria Nursing schools have a transparent non- discriminatory admission and selection process Nursing schools have a transparent non- discriminatory admission and selection process.

5.0 Program Admission 5.1 Admission Policy & Selection (cont.) 5.1 Admission Policy & Selection (cont.) Nursing schools have a system and policy in place that takes into account different entry points of students, recognition of their prior learning, experience and progression options toward higher education goals Nursing schools have a system and policy in place that takes into account different entry points of students, recognition of their prior learning, experience and progression options toward higher education goals Nursing schools have entry requirements that meet national criteria for higher education institutions including, but not limited to, completion of secondary education Nursing schools have entry requirements that meet national criteria for higher education institutions including, but not limited to, completion of secondary education.

5.0 Program Admission 5.2 Student Type and Intake 5.2 Student Type and Intake Nursing schools admit students with backgrounds in basic science and mathematics who demonstrate skills in the language of instruction and in dealing with the clients Nursing schools admit students with backgrounds in basic science and mathematics who demonstrate skills in the language of instruction and in dealing with the clients Nursing schools admit students who have the ability to meet the requirements of the program Nursing schools admit students who have the ability to meet the requirements of the program.

5.0 Program Admission (cont.) 5.2 Student Type and Intake (cont.) 5.2 Student Type and Intake (cont.) Nursing schools admit students who meet the institution’s health and any other requirements, as well as any national requirements for selection Nursing schools admit students who meet the institution’s health and any other requirements, as well as any national requirements for selection Nursing schools seek students who demonstrate the will to serve in health and the ability to be independent learners Nursing schools seek students who demonstrate the will to serve in health and the ability to be independent learners.