Optional course Elements of Morphophysiology as a scientific basis for the teaching of Nursing Foundations

Abstract

Background: The optional subjects provide content that is intended to expand and update students on scientific topics related to the profession. They are decided in each center of higher education, they are included in the study plan and the student selects them for compulsory study.
Objective: to prepare a program for the optional course Elements of Morphophysiology whose contents constitute a scientific basis in the teaching of the Fundamentals of Nursing subject.
Methods: a development research was carried out at the Faculty of Technology of the University of Medical Sciences of Camagüey, in the 2016-2017 academic year. Theoretical methods were used: analysis-synthesis and inductive-deductive and the systemic approach; and empirical: documentary analysis of teaching programs and the survey in the form of interviews with students and teachers to determine the contents to be introduced in the program.
Results: the program based on general morphophysiology contents, structured in three subjects, with face-to-face and duration of 24 hours was developed. It contains general educational and instructional objectives, specific objectives, contents, methodological orientations and evaluation system.
Conclusions: the optional course provided students with knowledge that optimized the development of the teaching-learning process. Its creation responded to a need and in practice reinforced the scientific basis for the acquisition of knowledge of the guiding subject.