The Role Of The Nursing Educator In A 21st Century Learning
Environment.
A nurse educator
according to Mcur and Mulaudzi (2015), refers to a professional nurse, who has
acquired a nursing education specialist, who develops and trains student nurses
in theory and practice to produce competent professionals, and who will be able
to provide total quality patient care at all levels. As such, these nursing
educators have a huge responsibility in guiding the population of nurses for
generations ahead. Nursing education has evolved from an apprentice-style of
education to one that requires an education grounded in liberal arts and calls
for the development of critical thinking abilities who continue to make
significant contributions to our understanding of the patient experience
(Morin, 2014). The main aim of nursing education according to Olsson and
Gullberg (1991), is to develop the nursing profession, to clarify the
professional role, to set goals of professional programs, and to recognize the
professional status.
Adjusting
to the dynamics of the 21st century may be demanding for nursing
educators, some more than others. More and more have we seen teaching methods being
changed from the traditional way. The use of chalk, blackboard and duster can
be seen less; however, the use of technology with multi-media, computers and
other software devices are being utilized habitually, these devices not only
makes learning fun, but also accessible in other parts of the world. As society
evolves, access to information and the type of data have also changed. More and
more the nursing practice have become sensitive and reliance on evidence based
practice, which is guided by enhanced theoretical framework. Nursing educators must
therefore, keep abreast with all these changes to continue to be effective
leaders. With the implementation of Electronic Health Records and Nursing
Informatics, nursing educators must be able to adapt and understand these
applications, not only for their own self education, but to educate students in
this student-centered teaching environment.
Figure 1. NURSING INFORMATICS in USE.
Challenges in fulfilling the role of
the Nurse Educator in the 21st century.
1. Nursing educators may not be qualified and Knowledgeable or possess the ability
to teach this generation of nurses, therefore, they must become qualified and
able to utilize their qualifications, to meet the needs of this advanced
student nurse population. Although some nursing educators may have the recommended
criterion, being able to teach and explain lessons may be difficult due to lack
of experience, not having proper teaching skills that are required, or they may
not know how to apply what they have learned on paper and translate it to the practical
setting.
2. Inability to Merge the art and science of caring, together with the
easily accessible technology. According to Fawaza, Hamdan-Mansourb,
and Tassia (2018), outcome-oriented education is currently being highlighted
rather than process-based learning. For instance, through skill-based
techniques; evidence-based techniques in education; providing students a rich
learning journey unlike former models of traditional lecturing; and
incorporating evolved learning technologies in programs. Thus, technology have
now become internet and web based, educators must be tech-savvy to manoeuvre these
devices. Accessing and utilizing; e-books, internet-hosted material, computer
access and broadband internet services, IT rooms, smart-boards, and video-conferencing,
and implementation of technology in clinical practice, should be easy for
nursing educators to use.
3. Challenges with Curriculum
Development; Nursing educators should also be able to be creative in continuously
formulating curricular modifications in this rapidly evolving professional
practice (Fawaza, Hamdan-Mansourb, & Tassia, 2018). Being able
to modify the nursing student curriculum to meet the needs of the all stakeholders
directly involved inclusive of; the nursing students, their learning styles and
most importantly the patients who receive care.
4. Unable to Balance Nursing and
Nursing education as a two floe profession. According
to RN Journal of Nursing (2019), the chronically ill hospitalized patient
population of today combined with the inherent complexities of managing
patients with various pathologies make the ability to critically think and act
especially important. They further states that, Nurse educators who teach these courses must meet the accepted standards
by graduating safe practitioners and by maintaining appropriate accreditations
in order to teach the students. Nursing educators should always be equip with
advance evidence based knowledge and updated practice, to ensure what they
teach their nursing students the skills that are within safe and effective
quality care practices.
Understanding and Applying Concepts, Models or Framework.
The understanding
of instructional contexts and design models, learning objectives and
lesson plans indeed help to overcome such challenges, because these are systematic
methods in teaching that the educator can use to guide their teaching
techniques. As suggested by Baron (2017), understanding the processes of a
concept-based curriculum helps educators refine curricular structures, teaching
techniques, and teaching-learning evaluative methods; concept-based teaching
requires educators to construct learning using concepts and exemplars while
implementing student-centered learning activities with authentic experiences
from clinical practice.
Below is an educational framework entitled
Framework for 21st Century School Nursing Practice. Nursing
educators can utilize theoretical frameworks such as these to meet the needs of
their student population.
The National Association of School Nurse’s (NASN) Framework
for 21st Century School creates an overarching structure that includes concepts
integral to the complex clinical specialty, it provides a graphic illustration
of the key principles of professional practice, reflecting the organization's
stance for evidence-based best practice and providing focus to priority school
nursing activities.
In conclusion, it will be in the best
interest of all involved for nursing educators of the 21st century to maintain their
consistency of innovative ways to guide students in the learning environment. Once
the nursing educators identify creative ways to better relate clinical
experiences, maintain their balance in their profession, keep up to date with
their skills, develop techniques to assist their students to think critically while
they utilize technology in their practice, and plan students’ curriculum
effectively, health care at this given at the tech-savvy era will not only
enhanced but exceptional.
Below is video based on the Qualities
and Characteristics of an Effective and Efficient Nursing Educator of the 21st
Century. DO ENJOY!!!
Reference;
Baron K. A. (2017). Changing to Concept-Based
Curricula: The Process for Nurse Educators.
The open nursing
journal, 11, 277–287. doi:10.2174/1874434601711010277
Fawaza, Hamdan-Mansourb, and Tassia (2018). Challenges facing nursing education in the
advanced
healthcare environment International
Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences
Volume 9, 2018, Pages
105-110 Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijans.2018.10.005
Morin, K., H. (2014).
Nursing education: The past, present and future | Volume : 2
| Issue :
4 | Page : 136-141 DOI: 10.4103/1658-600X.142781
Retrieved from
http://www.thejhs.org/article.asp?issn=2468-6360;year=2014;volume=2;issue=4;spage=136;epage=141;aulast=Morin
National Association
of School Nursing (2019) Framework for 21st Century School Nursing
Practice Retrieved from https://www.nasn.org/nasn/nasn-resources/professional-topics/framework
nurse role. Expectations and knowledge of the nurse
role. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1994228
RN Journal of Nursing (2019).
Current and Future Educational Challenges for the Nurse
Educator Retrieved from https://rn-journal.com/journal-of-nursing/educational-challenges-in-nurse-education
Hi Tessa.
ReplyDeleteA very informative write-up you did. It is indeed challenging for nurse educators to adjust to the 21st century teaching environment. To add on to your challenges, I like the point where you have stated that nurse educators may not be qualified to teach the new generation of nursing students. In my own country, Fiji, most of the nurse educators are having qualifications only at Master's level with a few having PhD. I believe that it is desirable for someone having a PhD to be taking post graduate courses as they will have more knowledge and skills compared to masters prepared educators. The inclusion of the framework to help nurses educators in your blog is great. This will help them to overcome the challenges that they may be facing.
Salvindra,
DeleteAs we have learnt during our practicum even in Trinidad right here at UWISoN, in order to be a lecturer one must posses a PhD. A few years back, master-prepared nursing educators may have been acceptable but that is not the case anymore. Persons must get qualified is they want to be a part of faculty as lecturers or if they still desire to be in the nursing education field, they will have to settle for being assistant lecturers (if the educational institution is accepting that level of qualification) or clinical instructors.
Hey Tessa.
ReplyDeleteVery well said and I agree with the point that you've brought out here. They are definitely in accordance with the needs of the 21st century environment. Nevertheless, permit me to add one point.
I do believe, that at least one aspect of the traditional environment can be brought into this digital age. That is commitment. In fairness to some nurse educators of old, many of them hadn't the opportunity to elevate themselves academically because Doctoral and Masters degree weren't accessible as it is today. Also, they probably weren't even exposed to the kind of technology that is seen in this generation. However, many would have utilized the knowledge that they had to provide what they would have perceived as the best mode of education delivery (a teacher-centered environment).
This by any means, does not take away the fact that now educators need to adapt to the present state. You brought out the point well; that they need to meet the needs of the 21st environment. Here is where commitment to learning, the students and nursing on a whole is essential for educators.
Thank you.
Hey Terrence,
DeleteI do agree with you that the older nurse educators would not have had exposure to Masters and Doctoral degrees. But even now some of them are more committed to nursing education that our "millineals". And as you have correctly we do need to adapt eith the times.
Hi Tessa. A well articulated piece of work. I agree with the facts that you have in regards to the challenges faced by the nurse educators in the 21st century. I strongly agree with the first point where you stated nursing educators may not be qualified and Knowledgeable or possess the ability to teach this generation of nurses, through my personal experience it has been noted that there are lack of these personnel in the nursing education system. Hence, many challenges in the nursing education system to meet the learning needs and goals of the individuals. well, I would say we are fortunate that we are experiencing these kind of learning environment which we could improve the nursing education system in future
ReplyDeleteTessa,
ReplyDeleteYou have indeed done a very comprehensive post showing the need for change and adapting to the 21st century: a fast-paced and ever-changing environment. We do need qualified nursing educators who will be able to to merge the use of technology with the art and science of caring while carrying out their professional duties as nurse educators. An educational framework will help nurse educators to perform successfully as nurse educators.
Good morning Tessa
ReplyDeletethankyou for the blog.....I too support the view that nurse Educators need to find a balance. if you are going to be teaching nursing as a profession one must keep current with what's happening in the hospital in order to stay on the cutting edge. No one should be allowed to teach in this 21st century without having update skills, especially in the realm of nursing. healthcare can be very demanding and changes all the time. healthcare professionals should remain competent.
Many thanks.....Dorothea