Running head: EVOLVING ROLES OF NURSE EDUCATORS 1
C918 Evolving Roles of Nurse Educators in Diverse Environments
Western Governors University
, EVOLVING ROLES OF NURSE EDUCATORS 2
Evolving Roles of Nurse Educators in Diverse Environments
Interview Guide
1. What are the qualities most needed to be a successful academic nurse educator?
In order to be successful in your role as an academic nurse educator, you must be
innovative in your approach to teaching and possess: number one the background
experience in both practice and academia, number two be passionate about nursing,
number three enjoy sharing your experiences and expertise, next be people savvy, oh and
cannot forget the most important quality- have patience! As an educator, you will notice
that learners come in all shapes, sizes, ages, and attitudes. You will need to know how to
provide learning experiences and boundaries based on your current classes’ multicultural,
multigenerational, and multifaceted differences. You will quickly realize that what
teaching methods work for your 21-year-old learner, will vastly differ from the needs of
your 50-year-old learner who is now re-specializing from corporate American business to
healthcare.
Follow-up 1. How do you embody all those qualities in your practice as an academic nurse
educator?
Well, first I always keep in my mind that I was once a student before, I won’t tell
you how long ago because I don’t want to date myself, but my philosophy to teaching is
similar to my philosophy for nursing. My philosophy is to “teach the way I would want to
be taught and nurse the way I would want to be nursed” Sounds a little biased at first, but
what I mean is that I would want learning opportunities for self-growth that strengthen
my nursing prowess. I was fortunate enough to have professors, preceptors, and mentors
, EVOLVING ROLES OF NURSE EDUCATORS 3
that provided me those opportunities, and as an academic nurse educator, I feel it is my
responsibility to provide those opportunities to the future nurses of our communities.
2. What is your role in curriculum development, improvements, and program accreditation?
I, I guess I should say all full-time faculty have a role in developing and
maintaining syllabi for the nursing program. Our role as ANE is to tailor each syllabus
and learning activities based on the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and
Colleges (ACCSC), Board of Vocational Nursing requirements, Board of Registered
Nursing requirements, QSEN learning outcomes, and the California Nurse Practice Act to
name a few. All course curriculum outlines detail learning objectives that each learner
will be able to complete by the end of the lesson to reinforce the daily lesson, and overall
strengthen their nursing student prowess to prepare them for entry level or new graduate
nursing. There are always areas we can improve on in our curriculum, and we base
improvements on the students’ course evaluations at the end of each term. If something
did not work for students, we immediately try to fix it and come up with new and
innovative ways to relay the information to the learners.
Follow-up 2. How do you structure your classes to help students achieve those learning
objectives?
I know my classes always have practice NCLEX style question and answer
sessions about the days topic where we are able to review need to know information,
while practicing how to dissect NCLEX style questions and strengthen their critical
thinking skills. To me, learning how to approach NCLEX style questions in addition to
being able to apply nursing content and critical thinking to practice is what helps learners
achieve those outcomes.
C918 Evolving Roles of Nurse Educators in Diverse Environments
Western Governors University
, EVOLVING ROLES OF NURSE EDUCATORS 2
Evolving Roles of Nurse Educators in Diverse Environments
Interview Guide
1. What are the qualities most needed to be a successful academic nurse educator?
In order to be successful in your role as an academic nurse educator, you must be
innovative in your approach to teaching and possess: number one the background
experience in both practice and academia, number two be passionate about nursing,
number three enjoy sharing your experiences and expertise, next be people savvy, oh and
cannot forget the most important quality- have patience! As an educator, you will notice
that learners come in all shapes, sizes, ages, and attitudes. You will need to know how to
provide learning experiences and boundaries based on your current classes’ multicultural,
multigenerational, and multifaceted differences. You will quickly realize that what
teaching methods work for your 21-year-old learner, will vastly differ from the needs of
your 50-year-old learner who is now re-specializing from corporate American business to
healthcare.
Follow-up 1. How do you embody all those qualities in your practice as an academic nurse
educator?
Well, first I always keep in my mind that I was once a student before, I won’t tell
you how long ago because I don’t want to date myself, but my philosophy to teaching is
similar to my philosophy for nursing. My philosophy is to “teach the way I would want to
be taught and nurse the way I would want to be nursed” Sounds a little biased at first, but
what I mean is that I would want learning opportunities for self-growth that strengthen
my nursing prowess. I was fortunate enough to have professors, preceptors, and mentors
, EVOLVING ROLES OF NURSE EDUCATORS 3
that provided me those opportunities, and as an academic nurse educator, I feel it is my
responsibility to provide those opportunities to the future nurses of our communities.
2. What is your role in curriculum development, improvements, and program accreditation?
I, I guess I should say all full-time faculty have a role in developing and
maintaining syllabi for the nursing program. Our role as ANE is to tailor each syllabus
and learning activities based on the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and
Colleges (ACCSC), Board of Vocational Nursing requirements, Board of Registered
Nursing requirements, QSEN learning outcomes, and the California Nurse Practice Act to
name a few. All course curriculum outlines detail learning objectives that each learner
will be able to complete by the end of the lesson to reinforce the daily lesson, and overall
strengthen their nursing student prowess to prepare them for entry level or new graduate
nursing. There are always areas we can improve on in our curriculum, and we base
improvements on the students’ course evaluations at the end of each term. If something
did not work for students, we immediately try to fix it and come up with new and
innovative ways to relay the information to the learners.
Follow-up 2. How do you structure your classes to help students achieve those learning
objectives?
I know my classes always have practice NCLEX style question and answer
sessions about the days topic where we are able to review need to know information,
while practicing how to dissect NCLEX style questions and strengthen their critical
thinking skills. To me, learning how to approach NCLEX style questions in addition to
being able to apply nursing content and critical thinking to practice is what helps learners
achieve those outcomes.
