What It Takes to Be a Nurse Educator

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Findings from the Interview
Conclusion
References

Introduction

Institutions of higher learning in the United States have different requirements for their educators based on their internal standards and the standards put in place by the national government. Nursing is one of the courses that have strict requirements for one to be an educator. According to Herrman (2015), this is so because of the delicate nature of nursing as a profession. In this study, we conducted an interview and reviewed the existing pieces of literature to have a clear picture of what it takes to be a nurse educator.

Findings from the Interview

Role of the faculty member interviewed

The researcher identified Mrs. Lisa Wilson of Florida Gulf Coast University in South West Florida to be the participant. Mrs. Wilson is an educator for Medical-Surgical 1 & 2 in the Nursing Department at this institution. She informed us that she is currently handling a Bachelor of Science in a Nursing (BSN) class of thirty students. Asked about her teaching strategy, she stated that she did not have a specific way of teaching because of the unique needs of her students. She explained that in most cases, she would try to give every group of students a unique approach that best suits their learning needs. However, she uses the teaching guide provided by the institution as an essential requirement in all her classes.

Preparation needed for the role

According to Mrs. Lisa Wilson, to be a nursing educator at Florida Gulf Coast University, one must have specific academic qualifications. A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) is a minimal requirement. One must have enrolled for the doctorate program to qualify as an educator for students pursuing Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Lisa obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Nova University as a scholars’ recipient from Lee Memorial Hospital. She finished her MSN at Nova University through the same program. It makes her qualified to be a nursing educator for students taking Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Currently, she is handling 30 BSN students for clinical rotations.

At Florida Gulf Coast University, Lisa informed us that experience was an added advantage to becoming a nursing educator. This experience could be gained in two different ways. The applicant should have experience as a registered nurse in a recognized institution in the United States or any other country that has the same standards of education as this country. Mrs. Lisa Wilson is a registered nurse (RN) who has worked for several years at Lee Memorial Hospital. It means that she has practical experience as a nurse, giving her an added advantage as an educator. The institution also gives consideration to people who have experience as nursing educators in recognized universities in the United States or other countries outside the United States.

The institution has a strict policy on the classes that Mrs. Lisa Wilson can handle based on her academic qualifications and practical experience. Most of her students are in their first and second-year programs. She also handles a few classes for the learners in their third years of nursing. However, she is not allowed to handle fourth-year students because of the policy of the institution. According to her, FGCU only allows educators who have a doctorate or those who are almost graduating with a doctorate. However, in some unique cases, she may be called to handle a unit or two with students in their fourth year.

Comparing and contrasting literature review with the findings from the interview

According to the research by Herrman (2015), all accredited institutions in the United States must follow a standard guide when it comes to hiring lecturers and tutors. However, each institution may set its standards based on various factors. Some organizations may decide to set very high standards because of their desire to offer premium services to their students. Others prefer to use the basic standards set by the national government (Smith, Carpenter, & Fitzpatrick, 2015). Florida Gulf Coast University is very popular among the mid-income earners in the country (Dyess, Chase & Newlin, 2010). This information compares closely with the responses obtained from the interviewee.

The national government has very strict policies when it comes to hiring tutors and lecturers to teach in nursing schools. According to Smith and Curry (2011), one must have an MSN to be an educator of BSN students. With an MSN, one is allowed to educate undergraduates at any level. This information is contrasting with the response given by the interviewee. According to her, an educator holding MSN is limited to the lower classes when handling BSN students. The assumption that can be given for the contrasting facts between the interview and literature review is that Florida Gulf Coast University is having higher standards for its educators.

Conclusion

The interview with Mrs. Lisa Wilson of Florida Gulf Coast University gives a clear image of what one is expected of to be an educator in nursing schools. To be a BSN educator, one must have an MSN degree or above. It is a government-set policy. Some institutions prefer hiring candidates with experience in practical nursing.

References

Dyess, S., Chase, S., & Newlin, K. (2010). The State of Research for Faith Community Nursing 2009. Journal of Religion and Health, 49(2), 188-199.

Herrman, J. W. (2015). Creative teaching strategies for the nurse educator. Philadelphia: F. A. Davis Company.

Smith, J., Carpenter, R., & Fitzpatrick, J. (2015). Encyclopedia of nursing education. London, UK: Oxford Publishers.

Smith, K., & Curry, K. (2011). It Is Worth It: Measuring the Long-Term Effects of an International Experience for Nursing Students in Ecuador. Journal of Community Health Nursing, 28(1), 14-22.

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