A practice-based approach to the selection of course content

In an attempt to reduce the theory–practice gap, institutions have tried to base the content of nursing courses on practice. When devising courses, groups or individuals decide the course content through discussion and debate. It is proposed that courses devised in this manner reflect the subjectivity of the individuals or the power relationships within the group rather than the reality of nursing practice. The author compared the content of a current theatre nursing course, devised by an individual, against content determined through researched observation of theatre nurse practice. While the author found that the observations confirmed the relevance of most of the current course content, some subjects were not addressed. The most surprising of these, and one which appeared to have an enormous influence on theatre nurse practice, was sociology.