I am passionate about nursing education. Throughout my nursing career, I have had many positive and rewarding opportunities from teaching others that have inspired me to become a nurse educator. The way I teach others is based on many factors including my clinical expertise, personal values, evidence-based practice, the nursing process, patient safety standards, learning theories, course objectives, along with student needs and goals.

I have a responsibility to meet student learning needs, so I teach in various ways, including lectures mixed with several active-learning activities to promote learning, recall, and critical thinking skills. Learning experiences and needs are unique to each student. Students are given choices and take part in student-led discussions to help engage and reach a variety of student abilities and interests. I provide students with psychological safety to promote a healthy learning environment. I have respectful interactions with students and expect students to be respectful of me and with each other. I believe in using the principles of brain-based learning theory. Because of that, I offer content before lessons, provide frequent nonjudgmental feedback, give clear expectations, provide practice before testing, and celebrate student success.

Nursing has a high learning curve. I believe it is best to lay a firm foundation of basic nursing knowledge and add to it with small steps and concepts. I review class content to confirm that it is appropriate for the student level. I have a responsibility to prepare students for graduation to become bedside nurses, so class and clinical lessons must apply to current nursing practice, which promotes student engagement. I believe in the social learning theory, so I understand the importance of good role modeling. I will display professional nursing behaviors during class and clinical; use storytelling to educate students about essential nursing responsibilities such as the rights of medications and patient advocacy, so students are more likely to adopt these behaviors in their future nursing practice.

I believe that it is best to incorporate the value-based nursing education theory. The core values I hold to nursing are patient advocacy, empathy, and life-long learning. Patient advocacy improves patient safety. When student nurses are familiar with best practice and patient safety standards, it improves their self-confidence, which will give them the courage to advocate for their patients. Empathy helps patients feel understood, cared for, and secure. I guide discussions and have guest speakers to promote feelings of empathy. Healthcare is continuously changing due to new research findings, so nurses need to become life-long learners. Students will read research articles, so they will feel confident using them as a resource when they have practice questions as a registered nurse. 

Students deserve excellent teachers. To reach excellence, I make measurable goals for myself and update them frequently. I assess teaching effectiveness by monitoring and observing student improvement in critical thinking skills and gained clinical skills. I take student feedback seriously and address their concerns so I can improve. I also seek feedback from experienced professors.

Whether I am teaching in the classroom or the clinical setting, my philosophy is the same. As a nurse educator, I must be current on research and best practices, I have an obligation not only students, but to the nursing school, the students’ future employers, and the communities they will serve to prepare exceptional nurses. Lastly, I want students to have an enjoyable learning experience, and I will do everything in my power within reason to make that happen.