A Nurse’s educator role that this writer selected from a handful of different function is that of a staff development role. Although this chosen role is challenging, it is rewarding. A staff educator can see the transition of a newly hired staff nurse and at the same time continues to transform the experienced nurse’s competence in their field or practice. “Nursing education strengthens professional competence and similarly strengthens personal character to produce a nurse fit for all dimensions of practice” (Glenn, 2014). Education has such a crucial role to play; it is an instrument to develop an individual as a whole. It is an opportunity for personal growth and success in life. Teaching a newly hired nurses (either new graduates or experienced nurses); the educator can see instantaneously the growth that a staff has accomplished. It is an achievement knowing that as a staff development educator, one has contributed to this phase of their professional development.
DEFINITION and ROLES OF A STAFF DEVELOPMENT
A staff development educator or Nursing Professional Development (NPD) work in different practice settings and environment, some work in the hospital, some work in clinical units or settings functioning in orienting, precepting and managing staff nurses, new graduates, and student nurses. They have a tremendous responsibilities including facilitating the learning experiences of student nurses, assisting in transforming diverse group of nurses in their practice that is safe, quality, and effective. According to Swihart, 2009, “these practitioners are more than educators”. Further, according to The American Nurses Association (2009), NPD is distinguished as a professional specialty based on the sciences of nursing, technolog...
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...nd as educators “nurse educators must possess solid clinical background, strong communication skills, and a high level of cultural competence in order to succeed. Educators must be lifelong learners, and flexible enough to adapt curriculum and teaching methods in response to innovations in nursing science and ongoing changes in the practice environment” (Bartels, J., Jan. 2005).
It is a role that Florence Nightingale, who is so ahead of her time, has envisioned for nurses so long ago. In one of her excerpts, she summarized: “Training is to teach a nurse her business, that is, to observe exactly, to understand, to know exactly, to do, to tell exactly, in such stupendous issues as life and death, health and disease. Training is to enable a nurse to act for the best in carrying out her orders, not as a machine but as a nurse; as an intelligent and responsible being”.
Newly graduated nurses lack clinical skills necessary to evolve professionally and carefully from academics to bedside practice (Kim, Lee, Eudey, Lounsbury & Wede, 2015). How scary is that not only for the patient but also for the new nurse himself or herself? While being faced with new challenges, an increasing amount of newly graduated RNs felt overcome and unqualified. Twibell and Pierre explain how new nurses express “disillusionment” about practice, scheduling, and being rewarded. Frustration and anger between employees play a huge part in NGNs resigning because of the lack of experience and knowledge of what to do in high stress situations (2012). Nursing residency programs have proven to directly improve patient care, develop critical
The majority of our society holds the notion that nurses are no more than trained professionals, working for a doctor, who simply provide medical care for the sick and informed. However, what nursing means to me goes deeper than that belief. Nursing is a profession in which individuals are responsible for not only the care of the sick and infirmed but are also responsible for being a support system and an educator, as well as an advocate for the promotion of optimal care. In today’s society, nurses are an important part of any medical facility’s investment. This paper will address the many different aspects of nursing in which nurse’s act as not only caregivers but also act as, counselors and educators.
I presume the role transition from academic nursing student to Graduate Nurse will be challenging and rewarding. In their findings, the researchers Doody, Tuohy & Deasy (2012) stated that for a successful transition NGNs need to be competent in a range of domains: interpersonal skills, managing workloads, providing health information, communication, and prioritising care delivery. Although I believe I am competent in the above specified areas, I am still not confident that I would get sufficient support in the hospital environment in terms of knowledge sharing, moral support and being given constructive feedback. Constructive criticism increases confidence in the work role and reduces stress in an individual (Doody, Tuohy & Deasy, 2012). In my previous professional placements I have been able to demonstrate my competency to work in the healthcare environment. I have received positive feedback from placement educators, buddy nurses and patients. Despite being competent in a range of the above areas NGNs may still face transition shock.
The transition from student to a qualified nurse can be a stressful and overwhelming ex-perience for many newly qualified nurses. This opinion is widely upheld throughout the literature with Higgins et al (2010) maintaining that many of the problems experienced are due to lack of support during this initial transition and a period of preceptorship would be invaluable.
Healthcare is a continuous emerging industry across the world. With our ever changing life styles and the increased levels of pollution across the world more and more people are suffering from various health issues. Nursing is an extremely diverse profession and among the highest educated with several levels ranging from a licensed practical nurse (LPN) to a registered nurse (RN) on up to a Doctorate in Nursing. Diane Viens (2003) states that ‘The NP is a critical member of the workforce to assume the leadership roles within practice, education, research, health systems, and health policy’.
Our course, Transition to Professional Nursing, is barely two weeks old and already I am being enlightened and challenged to expand my experience of nursing. I will attempt to explain my personal journey and experience thus far including how and why I got here, my beliefs about nursing and related values, and my visions for the future.
...es need to be taught awareness skills, and given enough training to sharpen, and maintain them .Instructors should be firm but fair. This means they should be ready to correct their student’s mistakes without necessarily coming off as overbearing and this was demonstrated by the nurse. Student nurses must interact more with their patients by listening and trying to understand them. Although the patient might not know what’s best for them, they may have an idea of what is going on and might help the nurses understand issues better.
An important consideration for nurses to remember is their purpose in caring for the patient. According to McDonald (2013), Florence Nightingale once said that nurses and hospitals exist for patients, not the other way around. Our purpose is to be present for the patient. Being present means being open to the patient needs, whether they are physical, emotional, spiritual, positive or negative. By being present and allowing the patient to express their requirements, a deeper relationship may be formed and trust developed. This creates the basis for a holistic avenue of
Nurses have always been an undervalued asset to the health care industry; however, there is always a great need for them. With more uninsured Americans requiring safe, affordable medical care, the pressing issue of nursing education is not a priority (Aiken, 2011). Recently, there have been modifications taken place toward the current nursing shortage, the decrease of nursing graduates, a workforce that is becoming older, and other factors that influence nurse educator shortage (Baker, Fitzpatrick, & Griffin, 2011). Nurse educators are required to advise students, complete research, and perform committee work all while teaching (Baker, Fitzpatrick, & Griffin, 2011). They also have multiple jobs outside of practicing nursing and teaching. Nurse educators have stressful roles that hold many expectations, yet there is no independence in making their own decisions concerning things. Aiken (2011) suggests that the best way to begin combatting this shortage should include increasing the number of nurses who hold a bachelor’s degree in nursing from 50% to 80% by 2020 (p. 196). Forty-eight percent of nurse instructors are expected to be aged 55 and older and are predicted to retire by this time. (Baker, Fitzpatrick, & Griffin, 2011).
My long-term goal is to obtain experience and proficiency as a Nurse educator to become a nursing educator instructor. As a Nursing educator instructor I will be able to build new educators in Graduate programs for th...
In this paper I will discuss how preceptors and educational leaders have contributed to my nursing career and many others. The mentors who have the most influence on nurses are those that stick with the nurses and help give them the motivation they need to move through obstacles. In the first few paragraphs, I will discuss my personal experience with a mentor and the characteristics they possessed that were beneficial to me. Mentors have become a great influence in my career and many others. In the last section of this paper, I will discuss some of my personal experiences in example and support why I value the characteristics by referring back to peer reviewed articles. Preceptors are essential and irreplaceable in the nursing profession and in this paper will describe how they are active in every nurse’s life and profession.
Registered nurses came through a long way back to the 19th century, when they used to provide care to the injured soldiers and other injures strangers. Florence Nightingale was the first influenced in this career. She was a daughter of a British family who worked her life to improve the field of nursing. Her main goal was to spread this field throughout the countries. As a success the first school was in the United States, in Boston. Then later it was passed to New York and others states. In today’s society we are still acknowledge to her great work. And improve the medical field for a better upgrade towards today’s society and generation.
As new nursing graduates begin the process of transition into the nursing practice. There are many challenges and issues which are associated throughout the transition. New graduates may embark their journey through a graduate program or seek employment solo. The transition period may consist of challenges, that students will encounter during their journey. This essay will identify, discuss and critically reflect nursing key challenges that student nurses may face, throughout the process of the transition phase. The nursing key challenges chosen for this essay include professionalism, preparation, personal factors, competency factors, patient- centered care and job satisfaction. These nursing challenges will be thoroughly discussed and supported by current evidenced based research and nursing literature.
The NLN’s purpose is to promote excellence in nursing education (Mason, Gardner, Outlaw, & O’Grady, 2016). Good education is the foundation of stronger
Defining what a nurse is varies from person to person. Some have described a nurse as a person who shows care to their patients while others say that nurses assist to regain the ill’s health back. There is no wrong answer in defining what a nurse is. Moreover, I believe that a nurse is one who treats their patients with the dignity and respect that they deserve, and assists them in promoting and preventing their health illness and lastly, enhancing their health to optimal status. Nursing is viewed as a human science because nurse must display a connection with each patient. One must view the patients as a person, who has feelings, who behaves a certain way and who deserve to be well cared for. In addition, nursing is not a profession that treats