What is the hidden curriculum, and how does it affect nursing students?

Abstract

The hidden curriculum can be defined as that which is taught to studentsunintentionally by the culture, structure, and people of their educational setting.Although most authors agree on its importance, little is written about howthe hidden curriculum affects nursing students in both university and clinicalplacements. The purpose of this review is to take a broad look at the researchon the hidden curriculum in an attempt to better understand its current value andfuture potential, as it affects nursing students and the profession. A brief historyof the hidden curriculum is provided in relation to nursing education, followed bya review of the literature with a specific focus on the variety of educational andclinical applications in which it plays important roles. These topics arose frominteractions with peers, nurses, non-faculty staff, and other community members,all of which had potential impacts on the students. Ultimately, the hidden curriculumis an understudied, underappreciated component of education, and is one in whichstudents play a major personal role in developing. Both faculty and students need tounderstand the power and importance of this tool, as it has the capacity to shapethe future of the nursing profession.