UHS launches skill-based curriculum for nurses

LAHORE:The University of Health Sciences (UHS) has launched a new skill-based curriculum for the four-year BS Nursing programme, titled COMPASS - an acronym for competency-based, outcome-based, multicultural, patient-centred, assessment, skills, and safety.

The curriculum, approved in a meeting of the UHS Board of Studies in Nursing chaired by Vice Chancellor Prof Dr. Ahsan Waheed Rathore, will come into effect this year across all UHS-affiliated nursing colleges throughout the province.

The COMPASS curriculum marked a significant shift from traditional instruction to a block-based, competency-driven training model. The new version of the curriculum is a joint effort of UHS Nursing and Medical Education departments. One of the key highlights is the doubling of clinical credit hours from 35 to 54.

Under the new structure, nursing students will spend three days a week in classrooms and three days in hospitals. Clinical rotations will begin from the first year, with students working in three alternating shifts to gain maximum exposure to patient care and inter-professional collaboration.

Prof Rathore said that it is for the first time in Pakistan, cultural competency has been embedded into the nursing curriculum. “We are equipping our students with over 200 clinical skills and 72 carefully designed courses to ensure they are not only technically sound but also culturally aware and globally prepared.”

He said the COMPASS model will integrate theory and clinical practice with an emphasis on real-world application, simulation-based training, and patient-centered care. Students will be taught in a spiral format across eight semesters, with course content increasing in complexity as they progress. “To maintain academic quality and ensure effective implementation, UHS will conduct unannounced monitoring visits to all affiliated colleges each semester”.

He said these visits will assess compliance with clinical rotation schedules, class timetables, logbooks, and student-faculty feedback. “Faculty development is a critical pillar of this transformation,” the Vice Chancellor noted. “From June 1 to 15, we will conduct intensive workshops to train nursing educators in delivering the new curriculum effectively”, he added.

UVAS observes ‘Youm-e-Tashakur’

The University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) here on Thursday observed 'Youm-e-Tashakur' to honour the Pakistan Armed Forces for strongly responding to Indian aggression and successfully carrying out Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos to protect the country.

UVAS Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr M Younus along with Chairperson of the Chief Minister's Directorate of Evaluation, Feedback, Inspection and Monitoring (DEFIM) Brig (Retd) Babar Alauddin led the walk in City campus while Deans, Director Chairman/Chairpersons and students from different departments, faculty members and administrative staff participated. The walk started from the VC office and culminated in front of main lawn after taking the round of City Campus. The participants chanted patriotic slogans and waved flags, showing strong support for the military and the success of Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos.