Topic 2: Nurse Educator Competency 1 – Strategies To Facilitate Learning (Part 2) Topic 2 DQ 1

Part 2

            The concept of preceptorship, otherwise nurse educator, is an old practice. Nurse educators are tasked with a lot of responsibilities, among them is to provide a safe environment for students. Nurse educators prepare graduates for the ever-changing, complex healthcare environment by using up-to-date information and building close relationships with learners. Furthermore, they constantly communicate, meet learners, and motivate them to foster a safe environment that encourages learning while bridging the gap between the realism of the workplace and the idealism of academic requirements (Coffey & White, 2019). Grand Canyon University’s (GCU) mission integrates with the Christian worldview’s values to provide a positive environment that enhances learners` innovation and acquisition of skills and values of being good servant leaders (GCU, 2021). Incorporating faith with compassion and kindness in the teaching curriculum allows learners to be mindful of the needs of others while working with preceptors to prepare for future practices. Furthermore, learners appreciate the value of integrity, which is essential in nursing in the nursing profession.

Because nurses work in a difficult work environment that is often faced with a conflict between choosing civilized and uncivilized behaviors, integrity is paramount in such circumstances. Nurse educators are required to train nurses with integrity and acquit skills to face challenges that may arise in future practice (Coffey & White, 2019). The use of simulated situations when teaching nurses is an integral part of preparing nurses to adopt various skills, including teamwork and communication, that are essential in future practice.

The clinical setting is another environment that requires nurse educators to provide a positive learning experience. Despite the challenges in clinical settings, preceptors can create a memorable learning experience for learners in various ways. Adopting simulation, practicing clinical scenarios, and use of reflective journaling are some of the methods that can be used to facilitate learning. Clinical simulations and practical scenarios allow learners to think critically, reflect on the situation, and make decisions (Izadi et al., 2020). These methods are as effective as interacting with the real clinical situation. Likewise, reflective journaling allows learners to think critically and reason appropriately and allows teachers to understand the thought process of learners.

Reference

Coffey, J. S., & White, B. L. (2019). The clinical nurse educator role: A snapshot in time. Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 50(5), 228–232. https://doi.org/10.3928/00220124-20190416-09