There are many skills in nursing education demanded of today’s current and aspiring nurse educators. At the center of America’s most trusted professions, nurse educators carry the enormous task of educating and training the current, and incoming nursing workforce – ensuring nurses remain educated and up-to-date on not only the fundamentals of nursing practice but the latest in clinical and technological advancement. To achieve this goal, nurse educators must hold a unique set of skills in both advanced nursing practice and educational development.
These skills shape the curriculums, assessments, assignments, and requirements that train nursing professionals across the country. Explore the top expectations of today’s nurse educators:
Curriculum Development and Analysis
One of the must-have skills in nursing education is curriculum development and analysis. Nurse educators must understand how to correctly develop a nursing curriculum that meets professional standards, quality guidelines, and industry needs. Additionally, educators must know how to analyze the effectiveness of a curriculum when compared to university or national benchmarks. These analytics are critical in driving quality program improvement, achieving a higher rate of competency in the classroom, and increasing overall student success.
Innovative Teaching and Evaluation Strategies
Nurse educators must be prepared to infuse the latest in knowledge, theories, and methods into their nursing application and curriculum. As advancements in the nursing and education field progress, educators will be faced with the requirement to employ these emerging skills within their education plans, including preparing educational materials, evaluating new and existing nursing education strategies and methods, and reviewing teaching practices and procedures. The infusion of these elements aims to increase student success and improve outcomes.
Assessment and Evaluation in Nursing Education
Understanding and evaluating nursing education materials is another critical skill in nursing education. Nurse educators must be able to assess and evaluate evidence-based practices and conduct evaluations throughout a nursing education curriculum. To achieve this, educators will develop and employ the use of tests and performance evaluation strategies focused on identifying and improving student understanding of nursing education and concept understanding. Not only can these assessments help improve curriculum, but they can also help guide educators in finding the best ways to deliver course information through a targeted and effective modality.
Organizational Leadership
Skills in nursing education aren’t just centered on teaching, they can include topics such as leadership and understanding of how professional organizations operate. With a focus on organizational leadership, nurse educators will be ready to apply the latest styles, strategies, and competencies in professional administration and practice – translating to more effective teaching and leadership where they work.
Theoretical Foundations of Advanced Nursing Practice
Understanding the historical, philosophical, and theoretical foundation for advanced nursing is a lesser thought but still a critical skill in nursing education. A foundational understanding of not just what advanced nursing practice is but how it developed and been applied over time is essential for those who will be teaching the foundations and theories of nursing practice to students.
How to Start a Nurse Educator Career?
The University of Providence offers both a concentration and concentration certificate in nurse education. The Master of Science in Nursing, Nurse Educator Concentration offers a graduate-level degree in nursing education fundamentals, concepts, and applications. The concentration combines online, asynchronous learning with in-person practicums to prepare students for a career in educating future nurses. The concentration is also available as a Post-Master Nurse Educator Concentration Certificate for existing Master of Science in Nursing degree holders.
