- Hsiao-Yu Chen: Department of Nursing, National Taichung Nursing College, No. 193 San-Min Road, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC.
Departments of nursing in Taiwan junior colleges teach a comprehensive range of core competency skills; provide the healthcare system with entry level nursing professionals able to deliver complete care services; and help students prepare for and earn their nursing licenses. Framed by current junior college nursing department curricula and considerations of professional core competency, this paper examines the role of core nursing competencies in college education goals as they influence college curriculum design and clinical practicum programs. The achieved result should be a professional curriculum that incorporates general education, basic medical, and professional nursing elements that is capable of nurturing professional nursing school graduates able to execute their professional duties and earn the respect of patients, their families and society.