NURSE EDUCATOR
The Nurse Educator Role
Part A
What would you consider your main role in the training of skilled professionals in the nursing realm specifically in formal academic settings?
Well, my main role in this case is to equip nursing students with the relevant nursing skills. In so doing, I tap into not only my academic expertise, but also my clinical experience. To be able to effectively fulfil their mandate, future nurses must have their learning properly facilitated within the nursing program faculty. I consider myself a key stakeholder in the facilitation of the said learning.
Why do you refer to yourself as a stakeholder?
Because I do not function alone. I work in close collaboration with others in this role.
What are some of the qualifications that someone should have to successfully serve in your role?
First and foremost, to be allowed to teach nursing curriculum in an institution of higher learning or teaching hospital, you must have an advanced nursing degree. Next, you must have the prerequisite experience as well as the necessary sets of skills that make it possible for you to implement nursing education curriculum.
What are some of those skills?
Some of the skills I have found critical in this case are inclusive of excellent communication abilities, good leadership capabilities, the ability to make learners see the bigger picture, ability to function well in team settings (given that this is a collaborative effort as I have already pointed out), and superior organizing and planning skills.
From research, I have gathered that in addition to being involved in the facilitation of student learning, academic nurse educators are also actively involved in leading change towards nursing education improvement. Could you please expound more on this latter role?
Yes. Thats actually very correct. In as much as we are faculty members in nursing schools, we are also champions of change in as far as the further improvement of nursing curriculum is concerned. This is to say that we also have a key role to play in the transformation of education systems for posterity. To a large extent, this is a particularly important role given that like is the case in any other profession, nursing practice demands keep changing on a daily basis. We must be alive to this reality and align learning with these new demands in the professional settings.
Could you please give an example of such a change?
Yes. Today, there is an increased need to ensure that nursing students are equipped with practical cultural competency skills. This is more so the case given that the world has become a global village and clinical settings are increasingly reflective of this reality. Given that nursing students are likely to encounter persons from all walks of life and interact with persons from diverse backgrounds, there is need to ensure that the nursing...
This is because skilled nurses will continue to be in high demand across the world. As a matter of fact, as retired registered nurses exit the
workforce, we are going to require skilled personnel to fill the roles left vacant.
How is that a boom for nursing educators? It appears that the trend you just mentioned will largely favor those who would wish to go into active practice.
Who will be educating the additional nurses needed to avert shortage in the future? (Laughter from both of us). We are going...
…I will be guided by Boyers proposals relating to the four areas of academic relevance that could be involved in
scholarship. It therefore follows that in addition to discovery of new knowledge, I will be committed to the deployment of the acquired knowledge in learning settings so as to promote
student learning, as well as the application of the said knowledge to the various problems in
society.
In service, I will be committed to the promotion of improved health outcomes especially when it comes to the advancement of safe and quality patient care. Further, I will also be involved in the professional role development of staff. This latter role is particularly important in the facilitation of nurse novice growth to expert.
Section 2
As I transition to the role of a nurse educator, I will ensure that I maintain the confidence of all those I closely collaborate with including, but not limited to, peers and students. I will also ensure that I demonstrate not only the dignity of the profession, but also self-respect and honesty. I also intent to be a champion for educational and clinical environments that advance professional integrity.
Section 3
An education environment that fosters diversity and promotes collaboration will best facilitate my transition into the nurse educator role. I happen to be a firm believer in collaborative efforts. Towards this end, I would be more comfortable in an environment that encourages team effort and seeks to build progressive partnerships between students, administrators, peers, etc. In as far as diversity is concerned, we must be appreciative of the fact that the patient population is increasingly diverse. I am therefore of the opiion that one of the key roles that I will be playing as a nurse educator is the development of a pool of nursing students that are culturally competent. For…
