Author(s)

Zhang Nan ¹

Affiliation(s)

¹ International Nursing School, Hainan Vocational University of Science and Technology, Haikou, 571137, China

Corresponding Author

Zhang Nan

ABSTRACT

The integration of nursing education with clinical practice is essential to prepare vocational nursing students for the complexities of modern healthcare environments. This paper explores strategies to bridge the gap between theoretical instruction and practical application in vocational colleges. Key approaches include curriculum alignment, competency-based education, simulation-based training, academic-clinical partnerships, and the integration of evidence-based practice. By implementing these strategies, vocational colleges can enhance the readiness and effectiveness of nursing graduates in clinical settings. 

KEYWORDS

Nursing education; Clinical practice requirements; Vocational colleges

CITE THIS PAPER

Zhang Nan, Strategies for Aligning Nursing Education with Clinical Practice Requirements in Vocational Colleges. Curriculum and Teaching Methodology (2025) Vol. 8: 165-170. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.23977/curtm.2025.080323.

REFERENCES

[1] Benner, P., Sutphen, M., Leonard, V., & Day, L. (2010). Educating Nurses: A Call for Radical Transformation. Jossey-Bass.
[2] Hussein, R., Everett, B., Ramjan, L. M., Hu, W., & Salamonson, Y. (2017). New graduate nurses' experiences in a clinical specialty: A follow up study of newcomer perceptions of transitional support. BMC Nursing, 16(1), 42. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-017-0236-0
[3] Institute of Medicine (IOM). (2011). The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. National Academies Press.
[4] Khan, B. A., Hirani, S. S., & Salim, N. (2015). Curriculum alignment: The soul of nursing education. Int J Nurs Educ, 7(2), 83-86.
[5] Frank, J. R., Snell, L. S., Cate, O. T., Holmboe, E. S., Carraccio, C., Swing, S. R., & Harris, P. (2010). Competency-based medical education: theory to practice. Medical Teacher, 32(8), 638-645. https://doi.org/10.3109/0142159X.2010.501190
[6] American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). (2021). The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education. Retrieved from https://www.aacnnursing.org/Portals/0/PDFs/Publications/Essentials-2021.pdf
[7] Cant, R. P., & Cooper, S. J. (2010). Simulation-based learning in nurse education: Systematic review. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 66(1), 3–15. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2009.05240.x
[8] Sittner, B. J., Aebersold, M. L., Paige, J. B., Graham, L. L., Schram, A. P., Decker, S. I., & Lioce, L. (2015). INACSL standards of best practice for simulation: past, present, and future. Nursing education perspectives, 36(5), 294-298.
[9] Alinier, G., Hunt, B., Gordon, R., & Harwood, C. (2006). Effectiveness of intermediate-fidelity simulation training technology in undergraduate nursing education. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 54(3), 359-369. 
[10] Moscato, S. R., Miller, J., Logsdon, K., Weinberg, S., & Chorpenning, L. (2007). Dedicated Education Unit: An Innovative Clinical Partner Education Model. Nursing Outlook, 55(1), 31–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2006.11.002 
[11] Melnyk, B. M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2018). Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing & Healthcare: A Guide to Best Practice (4th ed.). Wolters Kluwer.
[12] Saunders, H., & Vehviläinen-Julkunen, K. (2018). The state of readiness for evidence-based practice among nurses: An integrative review. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 77, 128-140.
[13] Stevens, K. R. (2013). The impact of evidence-based practice in nursing and the next big ideas. Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 18(2), Manuscript 4. https://doi.org/10.3912/OJIN.Vol18No02Man04
[14] Jeffries, P. R., Rodgers, B., & Adamson, K. (2015). NLN Jeffries Simulation Theory: Brief narrative description. Nursing Education Perspectives, 36(5), 292–293. https://doi.org/10.5480/15-1655

Sponsors, Associates, and Links

---

• Advances in Educational Technology and Psychology
  
  
• Transactions on Comparative Education
  
  
• Applied & Educational Psychology
  
  
• Advances in Vocational and Technical Education
  
  
• Adult and Higher Education