Abstract
This thesis seeks to understand the changing curriculum for Nurse Practitioners (NPs) with a consideration of the role that gender may play within the field of medicine. Two forms of research methodology were used for this study: formal interviews and content analysis. Data collection provided a total of five themes that arose through content analysis: “Class education”, “skills”, “roles”, “who is served”, and “course content”. Nurse Practitioning has been found to be both holistic in its teaching and its practice. There are aspects of both formal and informal education that play a fundamental role in the ways students are taught and learn. Women in the medical field are more aware of gender inequality than men are. There are three areas in which future research can be conducted. The first is in the cross comparison of Doctorate of Nurse Practitioning Programs and Medical Doctorate Programs. There’s a potential with the changes in education for NPs’ roles to shift towards the roles of a Doctor due to their increased educational requirements and classifications. Secondly would look into the way changes in education could potentially alter the field from being holistic in its teachings and practice towards the roles of a physician; essentially becoming much less patient oriented and much more streamlined. Finally, research can be can conducted is in regards to why female students are pursuing careers that would place them in positions where they would be dominated by men in leadership positions. There is a shortage of nurses pursuing advanced practice degrees (Masters and Doctorates), yet there are a number of women pursuing careers as Physician’s Assistants. These three areas of research and future cross comparison can provide a wealth of knowledge and insight into the ways in the changes in education play a role in the medical hierarchy and how gender and equality work and affect one another.
Advisor
Frese, Pamela
Department
Sociology and Anthropology
Recommended Citation
Pullella, Alexandra, "“Nurse Practitioners and Education: Changes in Education and the Future of the Profession”" (2017). Senior Independent Study Theses. Paper 11788.
https://openworks.wooster.edu/independentstudy/11788
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences | Nursing | Other Nursing | Social and Behavioral Sciences | Social and Cultural Anthropology
Keywords
Senior Independent Study, Senior IS, Nurse Practitioning, Nursing, Gender Differences
Publication Date
2017
Degree Granted
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type
Senior Independent Study Thesis
© Copyright 2017 Alexandra Pullella