Leading Change in Clinical Nursing Education: Adoption of Socioculturally-Based Teaching Strategies

Monday, November 2, 2009: 3:30 PM

Janet M. Phillips, RN, BSN, MSN, PhD
School of Nursing, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN

Learning Objective 1: explain an evidence-based model for leading change in the adoption of new teaching strategies in clinical nursing education.

Learning Objective 2: identify five factors influencing clinical nurse educators when adopting new teaching strategies.

National nursing organizations have called for transformation in clinical nursing education which is evidence-based to better prepare nurse graduates to work in today’s complex health care delivery system. The purpose of this study was to explore the adoption of evidence-based socioculturally-based teaching strategies (SCBTS) using Everett Rogers’ (2003) diffusion of innovations model. The study explored (a) clinical nurse educators’ perceived characteristics of SCBTS, (b) clinical nurse educators’ perceived organizational support, and (c) selected demographic characteristics in relation to adopting SCBTS.

The results demonstrated that SCBTS are being adopted by clinical nurse educators. Teaching strategies that were more advantageous, compatible with educators’ values, and not too complex were more likely to be adopted. Experienced clinical nurse educators were more likely to adopt SCBTS than less experienced colleagues.

This presentation will describe the responses of clinical nurse educators from diverse locations around the United States (N = 95) and what they consider to be important when adopting teaching strategies. The schools of nursing in which they teach represent all categories of pre-licensure nursing education programs.

Included in the discussion will be an evidence-based model for adoption of teaching strategies and how it can be used by nurse educators when considering new teaching strategies. Implications for individual decision-making and organizational support for innovation will be discussed to make improvements in clinical nursing education.