Philosophy of Nursing Education
I am proud to be
a member of the nursing profession. As a
nurse, I have worn many hats over the past several decades. From a humble beginning as a nurse
technician, to my present role as a future master’s prepared nurse educator, my
journey has been one of continuous learning.
Throughout my career I have encountered many changes in the health care
industry. All of my personal, and
professional experiences have laid the foundation to bring me to the place in
my career I am today, and will construct the path of my future.
As a staff nurse educator, I strongly believe in learner-centered teaching. Each staff
member is unique in the way they practice, think and learn. An effective educator remembers this, and adapts learning experiences to meet their educational needs. Education is a two way street. The educator and learner are partners, learning from each other. Staff educators, support nurses in obtaining creative, innovative solutions to improve patient safety, and successful outcomes.
Quality and safety initiatives are the supporting foundation in building evidence-based care. Incorporating quality and safety into daily nursing practice, a patient-centered culture is created, producing optimal patient outcomes. Through this culture, our profession continues to evolve and grow. Each nurse must find their niche within this culture. By doing so, they engage deeper into their nursing practice, improve critical thinking skills, and freely contribute to quality and safety measures that support the organization’s mission, vision, and philosophy.
The Quality and Safety for Nurses Education Institute (QSEN) serves as a framework to provide staff nurses with the knowledge, and guidance to practice evidence-based care. For the experienced nurse, the approach to safety may be new or vary from their current mindset. For the novice nurse, the QSEN initiatives are familiar, but need to be bridged into their practice. Together, experienced and novice level nurses strengthen each other’s practice. Teamwork and collaboration are encouraged, including the contributions of other disciplines. Technological advances will be both recognized, and incorporated into nursing practice. Change is inevitable, and should be viewed as an opportunity for growth, both personally and professionally.
Quality and safety improvements are continuous, with the goal of preventing harm for all patients. This pursuit demands life-long learning and research to develop evidence-based practice, thus improving patient outcomes. Communication is key. Trust is essential. Respect is mandatory, and professionalism ongoing. Nurses must not fear reporting errors or near misses. Instead, view the reporting process as a contribution, and advancement in the organization’s mission, and their individual nursing practice. These attributes are important to any relationship, not just too nursing.
The nursing profession has been guided by theory. I believe nursing is both an art and a science, as Watson’s (1979) theory of human caring was one of the first I identified with. Another important nursing theory is Roy’s (1980) adaptation model, as the health care environment is ever changing. I believe each nurse will discover their own nursing theories they identify with, and guide their practice through essential quality and safety interventions.
The process of critical thinking exemplifies nursing as a profession. Individual critical thinking skills will be encouraged and expected. I am committed to providing each nurse with the required goals and outcomes, while allowing them to decide how they can best achieve them. Learning experiences will be evidence-based and interactive. I do not hold expectations of others I do not hold myself accountable for. As a staff educator, leadership, through shared-governance, collaboration and lifelong-learning, will address the shifting nurse paradigm. Progressive quality and safety planning, and intervention will assure better patient outcomes and staff satisfaction, securing the future of nursing as a profession.
As a staff nurse educator, I strongly believe in learner-centered teaching. Each staff
member is unique in the way they practice, think and learn. An effective educator remembers this, and adapts learning experiences to meet their educational needs. Education is a two way street. The educator and learner are partners, learning from each other. Staff educators, support nurses in obtaining creative, innovative solutions to improve patient safety, and successful outcomes.
Quality and safety initiatives are the supporting foundation in building evidence-based care. Incorporating quality and safety into daily nursing practice, a patient-centered culture is created, producing optimal patient outcomes. Through this culture, our profession continues to evolve and grow. Each nurse must find their niche within this culture. By doing so, they engage deeper into their nursing practice, improve critical thinking skills, and freely contribute to quality and safety measures that support the organization’s mission, vision, and philosophy.
The Quality and Safety for Nurses Education Institute (QSEN) serves as a framework to provide staff nurses with the knowledge, and guidance to practice evidence-based care. For the experienced nurse, the approach to safety may be new or vary from their current mindset. For the novice nurse, the QSEN initiatives are familiar, but need to be bridged into their practice. Together, experienced and novice level nurses strengthen each other’s practice. Teamwork and collaboration are encouraged, including the contributions of other disciplines. Technological advances will be both recognized, and incorporated into nursing practice. Change is inevitable, and should be viewed as an opportunity for growth, both personally and professionally.
Quality and safety improvements are continuous, with the goal of preventing harm for all patients. This pursuit demands life-long learning and research to develop evidence-based practice, thus improving patient outcomes. Communication is key. Trust is essential. Respect is mandatory, and professionalism ongoing. Nurses must not fear reporting errors or near misses. Instead, view the reporting process as a contribution, and advancement in the organization’s mission, and their individual nursing practice. These attributes are important to any relationship, not just too nursing.
The nursing profession has been guided by theory. I believe nursing is both an art and a science, as Watson’s (1979) theory of human caring was one of the first I identified with. Another important nursing theory is Roy’s (1980) adaptation model, as the health care environment is ever changing. I believe each nurse will discover their own nursing theories they identify with, and guide their practice through essential quality and safety interventions.
The process of critical thinking exemplifies nursing as a profession. Individual critical thinking skills will be encouraged and expected. I am committed to providing each nurse with the required goals and outcomes, while allowing them to decide how they can best achieve them. Learning experiences will be evidence-based and interactive. I do not hold expectations of others I do not hold myself accountable for. As a staff educator, leadership, through shared-governance, collaboration and lifelong-learning, will address the shifting nurse paradigm. Progressive quality and safety planning, and intervention will assure better patient outcomes and staff satisfaction, securing the future of nursing as a profession.