Msn-Prepared Nurse (Nursing Educator)

Introduction

Acquiring a Master’s education is a significant element in the nursing education trajectory in preparing nurses who can bridge the gaps created by the ever-growing and dynamic healthcare needs. Today’s health complexities and nursing care create room for advanced knowledge in nursing education. This paper examines what it takes to get a Master of Science in nursing education regarding competencies, goals, and influences. It will analyze ways to develop a leadership role and plan for professional growth as an MSN-Prepared Nurse. The paper will appreciate the need for more MSN-prepared nurse practitioners and their contribution to improving healthcare quality and nursing education.

Area of Focus

I desire to acquire a full-time nurse educator teaching nurse positions at all levels about nursing issues and the need for comprehensive patient care. The nurse educator community ensures that the nursing workforce has the most accurate and current information, skills, and attitudes necessary to provide quality patient care across their lifespan. With a master’s of science in nursing education, I hope to acquire the competencies to adopt new approaches to implementing, organizing, planning, and evaluating nurse education programs.

Competencies

Strong communication skills are essential aspects for a nurse educator. Healthcare is a susceptible area of study as it affects patients’ and healthcare providers’ quality of life. The more competent, skilled, and knowledgeable a nurse is, the more healthcare services they provide to the patients, and it all depends on the quality of education and training they receive. As an educator, one has to package and deliver information in the most flexible manner that the students will understand. Promoting collaboration and enhancing partnership in line with effective communication facilitates educator-student interactions, creating a more personable and approachable environment for students to benefit from the educator (World Health Organization, WHO, 2016). An educator should effectively maintain and update clinical knowledge and skills. Learning never stops, which means one must continuously seek knowledge and information in healthcare as an educator. Besides, one has to stay updated with current affairs that affect healthcare. For example, educators should be informed on how global economic conditions affect people’s health and develop solutions to potential health-related issues.

Nurse educators should facilitate learning regardless of age, especially in adults. It is easier to handle the younger generation in a classroom setup than adults, given that the young are conditioned to sit, listen, learn, obey, and pass tests. Adults have a sense of freedom and liberty, and it can be challenging to contain them in a learning environment and give them instructions and assignments. A nurse educator should create an effective environment for adults by using approaches that fit adult learning. A nurse educator should assess and evaluate the learning outcomes of the learners for practical training. Assessment tests help educators analyze students’ understanding and skill attainment (WHO, 2016). Based on the results, an educator identifies issues that need more attention to enhance quality learning outcomes.

Professional Goals

First, my short-term goal includes building sustainable peer relationships with other nurse educators through person-to-person physical interactions and online spaces. Collaboration is an effective tool for growth in any career (WHO, 2016). For example, joining nursing educator groups on Facebook will keep me informed about other educators’ interests. Through collaboration, I will improve my teaching methods through learning to engage students in education. This engagement will match my philosophy of meeting the unique learning needs of the students.

Second, I wish to create an environment where students can comfortably approach me and any other educator for assistance. Students may fear interactions with their educators, which limits their knowledge acquisition and performance outcomes. Having an available communication mode of interaction will help identify students’ unique needs and adjust accordingly to improve learning outcomes.

Third, my long-term goal is to become the Director of Nursing Education in a learning institution, enabling me to directly influence the quality of nursing education through policy reforms. For example, I will influence the creation of topics and skills that need to be added or excluded in the nursing education curriculum based on learning outcomes achieved over a certain period. A more flexible curriculum catering to the learners’ unique needs will enhance nursing career students’ competence.

Influences

My desire to choose a nursing educator career is influenced by social, economic, institutional, and political factors. These different factors can negatively or positively impact pursuing a career (Evans, 2013). In terms of the social aspect, the increasing number of the aging population is outgrowing that of other age groups, meaning that there are more chronic illnesses and forms of disability, calling for better education on caring for geriatric patients (Jacob & Vanderhoef, 2014). Many of the elderly people are living in nursing homes or by themselves, which means there is a need for more professional healthcare and assistance. The demand for geriatric content has increased, given that geriatric patients need a unique model of care compared to the younger population. For example, nine Hartford Centers for Geriatric Nursing Excellence were established in 2009 to advance knowledge and care for the older population. The increasing number of learning institutions means an increasing demand for nursing educators, specifically in geriatric care. In terms of economic aspects, advanced education in nursing means that educators will receive better pay. Service to humanity will come first, and I will give my best and maintain my educator philosophy. I desire to pursue an MSN nursing educator degree to improve my life quality through better pay and job satisfaction.

Analysis

Scholarly work through scholarship helps expand knowledge, improve students’ analysis, and analyze the best practices for learners’ development. The goal of scholarship in nursing education is to understand how best students can learn (Rosseter, 2014). My philosophy as an educator is to improve flexibility in dealing with the student’s unique needs while maintaining an approachable environment for students to interact with the educator for better learning outcomes. To enhance student engagement, I will utilize Boyer’s model of Scholarship of Teaching, which comprises an inquiry-based model on student learning and teaching practices (Oermann, 2014). I would begin the Scholarship of Teaching by asking three questions: what works and what could be will reflect on current practices and student learning. The question on what is dives into the current situation with learners and their learning progress. On the other hand, the questions on what works will seek evidence on the usefulness of educational approaches that I use, and the question on what could be will guide my vision on what is possible to achieve.

I will undertake the following steps in my teaching scholarship: first, conducting original research that identifies how students gather knowledge and skills and how to produce durable learning. Second, evaluating educational programs conducted within the learning facility for providing feedback and analyzing their value. Third, conducting systemic reviews should be conducted that integrate results from various research and provide the evidence necessary for formulating educational decisions. Fourth, applying theories and research which will guide teaching and conducting regular assessments. Lastly, developing innovations in teaching will help meet my students’ unique needs to improve the quality of education.

Leadership Role

An excellent leader should encourage the team to be aggressive in achieving goals. In nursing education, the goal is to improve learning outcomes (Lindell, Hagler, & Poindexter, 2015). Influencing change by changing peers’ and learners’ attitudes regarding healthcare makes them appreciate the nursing scope and desire to seek knowledge and skills to improve learning quality. I will encourage students and fellow educators to actively seek ancient and up-to-date nursing knowledge that informs modern-day practice. Students can learn through association and set an excellent example because it encourages them to seek and acquire knowledge and skills and become experts (Sayers, Lopez, Howard, Escott, & Cleary, 2015). Being a clinical expert makes me an excellent role model for students, which will challenge them to do better.

Development Plan

I wish to attain excellence as a nursing educator. I aspire to actively engage in nursing education research by acquiring a Ph.D. after my Master’s degree. I wish to contribute to nursing science by conducting original research that will enhance authenticity in nursing. I aim to educate future nursing scholars to increase nursing professionals’ worldwide community. As an educator, I will actively participate in the curriculum design process and evaluation programs, which, together with pursuing quality improvement programs, will broaden my pool of knowledge at MSN and Ph.D. levels.

Reflection

I am devoted to creating societal change through a nurse’s professional career. As a nursing educator who will be MSN-Prepared, I aim to bring up highly skilled and knowledgeable students in providing person-centered care. Different learners have different learning needs, and being flexible to their unique learning abilities will lead to quality learning outcomes. Conducting research and engaging in scholarship programs is my aspiration, which is essential for a nursing educator. The educator’s responsibility is to equip nursing students with as much information and skills as possible, which is my desire. I will significantly advocate for ethical practices in nursing.

Conclusion

The diverse health issues and healthcare needs have increased the demand for knowledge in nursing education. To fill the gap, I want to devote my time and skills as a full-time nurse educator, teaching nurses at all levels about healthcare issues and the need for comprehensive patient care. My approach will be maintaining strong communication skills essential for a nurse educator. To match my educator philosophy, I will create an effective environment for adult learners by using approaches that fit adult learning. My short-term goal in my career is to establish sustainable peer relationships. My long-term goal is to become the Director of Nursing Education in a learning institution, enabling me to directly influence the quality of nursing education through policy reforms. By acquiring an MSN and furthering my studies to a Ph.D., I aspire to actively engage in nursing education research, contributing to authenticity in nursing education and quality learning outcomes.

References

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