This weekend I had the opportunity to attend a pediatric conference. I have been speaking on the issues that I have been having with students in the clinical setting, but this time I would like to discuss a situation with a seasoned nurse. I went to this conference of course to gain insightful knowledge, but I also wanted to observe different teaching styles. One speaker stood out to me. Her presentation was on the empowerment of nurses. At the beginning of her presentation, she made it known that she had to catch a flight as soon as she was finished. She talked so fast throughout her presentation, and I could not tell if she was rushing because she had to leave for another engagement.

During this presentation on empowering nurses, the speaker made several references to her abusive father, abused mother, and alcoholic brother-in-law. She also made a comment that charge nurses are simply "adult babysitter" and that she would never function in that role. All of this was done in a room full of nurses! She even used two curse words! Needless to say, there were a lot of offended people in the audience, and she never really talked about how nurses could empower themselves! This speaker was an advanced practice nurse and author who has been in this profession for over 30 years.

I have learned that different teaching styles and techniques work differently for different people and situations. The most important thing is to keep your audience in mind because you want to be sure that someone walks away with having learned something new. It is very important to meet the needs of your audience.

Week #8

This has been an eye-opening experience for me in so many ways! I am in a position where I can see and feel the frustrations that faculty must have in dealing with the many obstacles they face day to day. There is such a need for more nursing educators, and we are all obviously aware of that fact. It is so frustrating in the clinical setting when you are unable to give all of the students the one on one attention that they need. You generally end up spending the most of your time with those students who are doing poorly and fail to spend enough time with your best students in the group. It is almost like the stronger students are being punished just because they show greater potential.

There are some staff nurses that are really good with the students and they take the time to help them with their skills. There are others who feel like the instructor should be present at all times in order for the student to do anything with the patient. Unfortunately, we know that is not always possible. It also helps when students show initiative and want to learn. The clinical experience is what the student makes of it. It is not the time to read textbooks, study for other classes, talk on the phone, etc.

Week #7

Wow! Time is really flying by! Sometimes, I feel like a boat without a sail! My teaching practicum has been really keeping me busy, but I am learning so much in the process. We had to send a student home today from clinical for sleeping on the unit! She was upset and could not understand why she was receiving a clinical failure for the day. She could not grasp the idea that sleeping during the clinical day was totally unacceptable. This group of students are getting close to graduating. That is not the kind of nurse that I would want to take care of my children or any of my loved ones.

I feel that there is a need for closer monitoring of students in the clinical settings. I was really surprised to find that a large majority of the students could not even perform a basic assessment at a satisfactory level. Educators are at a disadvantage in the clinical setting quite often. Most of the clinical placements are spread out over the hospital, and it makes it very hard to spend quality time with each of the students. There has to be a solution to this problem! Maybe we are the answer!

Week #6

I am still in the process of observing different teaching techniques. With each lecture that I observe, I see different techniques being used. It is very different to sit in a classroom and observe from the perspective of a future instructor. This week was a neurology lecture. My specialty area is Neuro/Neurosurgery, so I was able to give input on the various subject areas as wwell as examples from the nurse's perspective in providing care. I really enjoy attending the lectures each week. It allows me to be more familiar with the specific information being taught in the classroom, so that same information can be put into practice during clinicals.

I also attended a meeting regarding Student Affairs. Nursing electives, changes in the BS curriculum, students with criminal convictions in the program were some of the highlights of the meeting. I really had never thought about students having criminal convictions, but I see that it is a real problem that does exist. It is a problem with the student going to clinicals, as well as taking the NCLEX exam. I am learning something new everyday!!!