Foundations of nursing education

Nursing Education

Todays student nurses have a plethora of opportuities to enjoy hands on learning and gaining knowledge through experience(s) than previously were available. Upon my initial entry into the nursing field such things as mentors and preceptors were only vague ideas on the horizon, now they are fully integrated pieces of many nursing educational programs.

There are a variety of reasons behind this change; some of those reasons are due to the tremendous societal changes that have taken place and the aging of the society. Additionally,

the recent on-going economic malaise and its precepitated effects on the political scene have had a strong impact on nursing education as well. Previously, nursing education emphasized the nursing protocol when it came to compassionate care of the patient; that focus has not changed, however, other emphasis has been added to it.

One recent study determined that a new focus had to include nursing education as it pertains to the art of politics and policies. The study found that "strategies that support nurses and nursing to influence policy are in place but more needs to be done to address all levels of nursing in order to find creative solutions that promote and increase the participation of nurses in the political process and health policies" (Fyffe, 2009, p. 670).

A focus on the influence of nurses on policies is something that previously was of not much concern; in today's environment it must be a concern as certain changes threaten the very fabric of nursing and nursing education. These changes in focus could actually be construed as a good and healthy change if one were to consider that adversity makes us stronger, and that which we have to fight for is much more valuable to us. As nurses, if we have to assert our views in order to have more influence in how our own industry is managed, such actions are likely to make us stronger, more sure of ourselves, and surely will bring positive results to those with whom we have pledged to serve and protect.

An effective educator that has assisted me in my change of focus was a nursing educator who paid special attention to the ethics of nursing. A study found that "the importance of ethics is a prerequisite of high quality nursing care" (Numminen, Leino-Kilpi, van der Arend,

Katajisto, 2011, p. 710), and since I am very interested in the ethical concerns of nursing, I

truly enjoyed her pragmatic and informative approach to teaching the subject. She accomplished her established educational objective through the use of such tools as the Internet, chat rooms and student-led discussions. Her vast knowledge and experience in the field of nursing and nursing education provided the basis for great deal of learning, which I

believe I would not have received had I not been enrolled in her course. One specific instance that I recall concerning this teacher's approach was when she offered the students an opportunity to create a questionnaire on ethics through an online program. Once the students had completed that portion of the assignment the second part of the asssignment was to administer the questionnaire to at least five nurse educators or students of nursing and then evaluate the results. I found this assignment especially intriguing and enlightening

(probably because I am very analytical and desire very much to know and understand how people think and feel). Without this teacher's concern with how students perceived ethics and their importance in the nursing field, I likely would not have enjoyed this educational foray as much as I have.

On the flip side of effective teaching was the instructor who believed that the students should only be lectured to, and that they should sit quietly and take notes. The information that this instructor imparted was important, and I did learn to rapidly write notes as the instructor was lecturing, however, this method of teaching (for me) is not the most effective manner in which to garner the needed material. Instead, I would have liked a more hands-on approach. I am much more interested in participating in discussions rather than having discussions directed at me without my input.