Nursing Ed
Nursing Education Philosophy
My teaching philosophy is an ever evolving process that seeks to make nursing education meaningful for the student. Nursing is an art and science profession that requires knowledge, ethics, skills, advocacy and critical reasoning abilities grounded in the desire to care for humanity. I am a nurse that highly values life-long learning and have vast experience in the nursing field. My educational philosophy is undoubtedly affected by my own experiences and has been influenced by my education. Nursing education involves a caring commitment to students in support of life-long learning in a continuum of quality improvement. As the health-care world changes the goal is to develop competent caring nurses that possess a spirit of inquiry.
Teaching is coaching and mentoring to enthusiastically facilitate the learning experience of diverse students using a toolbox of methods to guide students into make learning connections from what is known, toward new ways of thinking or behavior change. Approaches to teaching must consider the different learning domains and styles of adult learning with creativity to reach as many students as possible. Teaching that is student-centered involves listening to student feedback so they have input with a high degree of instructor emotional intelligence so that their voice is implemented into the curriculum. As a nursing instructor I need to be open-minded and self-evaluate so that I am reflective in practice for better ways to reach the students. Evaluation and grading of students must be fair and holistic considering that it may be the evaluation method that needs to improve, while also keeping in mind the patients we serve and the safety they deserve. A willingness to be flexible and open to innovative pedagogic principles in classroom activities, with learner-centered outcomes in mind, while keeping adult learning theory at the forefront of thought in all I plan to do is imperative to the success of students. As I strive to support and be a role-model for students, I also expect support and role-models from co-faculty as I integrate into my role and try innovative practices so that my learning and development also occurs. As Nursing has become a life-long learning endeavor; so will teaching.
Students are invested in the outcomes of the teacher’s innovation and evaluation, but must also be highly invested and self-directed in their own education to achieve successful deep learning. Learning is a successful attempt to know, using past experiences integrated with newly acquired knowledge, and making connections to build new ways of thinking and behavioral change. Students require clear expectations, relevant knowledge, a say in how classes progress, active learning strategy, feedback that is critique and not criticism, role modeling of desired behaviors, and genuine caring for successful outcomes. Students come from a vast and diverse background and teaching must be inclusive of all. Respect is a reciprocal process that must be integrated in all interactions. My teaching philosophy is an evolving process with an open-door policy that seeks to make nursing education meaningful for the student. The graphic depiction of my philosophy is Nursing Ed and is illustrated below. The picture above captures me and my sisters the day I graduated from the LPN program.
Nursing ED
Not having all the answers, but wanting to-and knowing how and where to look.
Unique student learning styles requires a toolbox of methods.
Reflection – to continuously improve quality. Role-modeling desired behaviors- such as caring and life-long learning. Respect- is a reciprocal process to appreciate and value each other’s unique contributions.
Student-centered multiple intelligences, approaches and pedagogy.
Inclusive of the diversity of students.
Never give up- I learn so students can learn with the right mentor.
Genuine listening and caring behaviors for successful student outcomes.
Enthusiasm about nursing to inspire learning. Evaluations are fair.
Discourse that is meaningful. Discovery of the spirit of inquiry in all of us.
Unique student learning styles requires a toolbox of methods.
Reflection – to continuously improve quality. Role-modeling desired behaviors- such as caring and life-long learning. Respect- is a reciprocal process to appreciate and value each other’s unique contributions.
Student-centered multiple intelligences, approaches and pedagogy.
Inclusive of the diversity of students.
Never give up- I learn so students can learn with the right mentor.
Genuine listening and caring behaviors for successful student outcomes.
Enthusiasm about nursing to inspire learning. Evaluations are fair.
Discourse that is meaningful. Discovery of the spirit of inquiry in all of us.