The Nurse Educator Role Essay

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. That’s 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 education curriculum integrates and evaluates cultural competency in nursing students – especially with regard to developing better understanding for (and being able to handle) diversity.

What is the job outlook for the nurse educator role?

I am convinced that the role of nurse educator will be even more important in the future. 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 to need more skilled and competent teachers to ensure the supply of the next generation of skilled professionals. Further, more nurse educators will be needed to help in the further development of the system in which nursing education takes place.

Nursing happens to be a collaborative role. Is this also the case for the nurse educator role?

Yes, very much so. My role as a nurse educator extends far beyond that of mere “teaching.” I am also a scholar and collaborator. To succeed in this role, you have to work in close collaboration with others. In my role as a collaborator, I function alongside numerous other stakeholders to either facilitate student learning, develop appropriate theoretical frameworks in education, or advance nursing research.

Could you give me a few examples of such stakeholders or persons you closely collaborate with?

Those I closely collaborate with include, but they are not limited to; peers, program faculty and administrators, practicing nurses in various clinical and healthcare settings, as well as the students themselves.

(NB: All the 10 core questions have been included in the appendices section)

Part C

Section 1

It is important to note that the relevance of quality education cannot be overstated in efforts to assure the competence of the next generation of healthcare professionals. In the absence of the relevant skills, capabilities, and knowledge, nurses cannot be able to effectively execute their mandate in clinical settings – especially when it comes to the delivery of quality and safe patient care. Nurse educators come in handy in the appropriate and adequate preparation of future nurses. For instance, in the words of Ezzeddine (2017), nursing educators ought to ensure that they “encourage students to develop the critical thinking skills essential in the nurse’s ability to identify current or potential problems…

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…nurses is instrumental in efforts to promote nurse-patent engagements and communication – which are in themselves key features of quality healthcare.

Section 3

One solution that could be adopted in attempts to promote cultural diversity in nursing education is increasing faculty diversity (Linda, 2018). Indeed, according to the author, at present, the diversity of students (as well as communities) is not reflected by the faculty diversity levels. Enhanced diversity at the cultural level is of great relevance because as Linda (2018) points out, learning happens to be a contextual undertaking. Faculty diversity could be achieved via the adoption of the appropriate recruitment, selection, and retention strategies. Secondly, there is also need to modify learning as well as evaluation approaches to ensure that they are reflective of the scenario on the ground. Teaching and learning techniques, thus, ought to be reviewed and adapted when (and if) necessary to ensure that nurses of the future are culturally competent.

Part E

Section 1

In as far as teaching is concerned, I will ensure that I faithfully execute the responsibilities expected of me in this particular role. It therefore follows that in addition to being actively involved in the design of curricula, I will also be engaged in the basic role of teaching and evaluation of students. It is also important to note that I am fully aware of the fact that in this role, I will also be called upon to serve as a mentor and role model for learners.

Being a professional committed to scientific advancement, I also intend to actively engage in scholarly work, i.e. with regard to continuing research and peer review efforts. On this front, I will be guided by Boyer’s 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…