Paper
Thursday, 20 July 2006
Lessons Learned: Reflections of Nurse Educators
JoEllen Dattilo, RN, PhD1, M. Kathleen Brewer, PhD, RN, CNS2, and Linda A. Streit, RN, DSN, CCRN1. (1) Georgia Baptist College of Nursing of Mercer University, Atlanta, GA, USA, (2) School of Nursing, University of Kansas, Kansas City, KS, USA
| Learning Objective #1: appreciate the wisdom and insigts gained by nurse educators through years of practice. |
| Learning Objective #2: identify strategies, based on practice, which increase ones' success and survival as a nurse educator. |
Recent data reported by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (2005) suggests that nursing education is experiencing an increase in the number of interested applicants. However, as a consequence of a nursing faculty shortage many qualified prospective students are denied enrollment. Strategies which would encourage interested individuals to consider a career in nursing education would somewhat alleviate the restrictions placed on the number of admitted students. A descriptive phenomenological study is currently being conducted to explore experienced baccalaureate nurse educators perspectives about their role. Possibly their insights and guiding suggestions will influence novice and potential faculty to select this professional path. Saturation was reached when a convenience sample of eleven experienced baccalaureate nurse educators participated in the study. All are female and have a minimum of ten years, full-time nurse educator experience in both the classroom and clinical setting in public and private institutions. Number of years teaching ranged from thirteen years to thirty-one years. Once the participants signed the informed consent an audio-taped interview or written narrative was completed. Four open-ended questions were posed about their role experiences: Describe to me the best lesson you have learned about being a nurse educator.Describe to me the biggest mistake you think you have made as a nurse educator and what would you do differently.
Tell me why you think someone should consider being a nurse educator.Name three qualities that you believe are necessary to be a successful nurse educator.
Van Manen's procedural steps were used for data analysis. Emergent themes have been identified. The themes, reflective of the educator's experience, should offer a wealth of insights and guidance to novices striving for success in this arena.
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