| Learning Objective #1: Describe how interrelationships between practice and scholarship can motivate students to use writing to describe their clinical practice experiences in a creative format to attract children to a nursing career | |||
| Learning Objective #2: Analyze how a collaborative class project can be used to create diverse community partnerships that foster learning for students and enhance potential nursing workforce opportunities |
Description of Project: Written and oral communication skills, as well as critical and creative thinking skills, are important for nurses in practice. This presentation illustrates how these skills were developed in a "Nurses as Writers" class through a project that involved students in collaborative writing of a book, "The Magic Stethoscope." The students were concerned that there is little literature available to show children the exciting adventures offered by a career in nursing so that they might consider nursing for a future career. In response to the acute shortage of registered nurses available to meet the future needs of patients, the students used the pen name "R.N. Hope" to symbolize the hope that increased numbers of talented women and men will enter the profession of nursing. Each of 14 students wrote a book chapter that described true events from her professional experience, as seen through the eyes of two fictitious children who travel from one nursing adventure to another through the aid of a Magic Stethoscope. Diverse Partnerships: Each student served on a team of editors, graphic designers, marketers, or project coordinators. They created partnerships in the community with schools, hospitals, marketers, and the media. Outcomes: Students commented that the book project was important in enhancing their critical and creative thinking and using their expertise in clinical practice to address the nursing shortage through an innovative type of scholarship. All proceeds from sales of the book are used for nursing scholarships. As students see the impact of their writing project through book sales and publicity notices, they recognize the value of gaining skills in communication and critical and creative thinking and using these skills to influence recruitment of future nurses.
Back to Nurse Recruitment Strategies and Partners
Back to 37th Biennial Convention - Clinical Sessions
Sigma Theta Tau International