Women's health: developing a course for open enrollment.

Abstract

Women's studies programs have begun to flourish on university campuses, but courses related to the health of women have not typically been included. The few classes in women's health that have been developed have usually been offered by non-nursing departments. Women's issues are both appropriate and important to the nursing profession, but nursing educators have been slow to develop courses that address women's health issues. The authors believe that the university is an ideal setting in which nursing can integrate its philosophy of health with the concerns of the women's health movement. Rationales are given for developing a course that is open to all students, regardless of their primary field of study. Major decisions made in the process of designing a course in women's health are discussed. The authors have found that students are enthusiastically endorsing their course and believe that other schools of nursing should assume leadership in developing similar classes