[nurse educate]

Originally Posted by Kokomo

I am interested in pursueing my MSN and would like more information, if anyone would care to send it my way. Thank you. I have been informed that it is so much easier now then when I was in school 9 years ago. Much can be done via internet. WOW!

Yes it can be, but I found that distance learning was not for me. I guess it depends on the program, and the person. My school's program was hardly interactive, it was more of an independent study program. I am more of an auditory learner, and I love the classroom interaction and environment. I also could not do my work at home (no one would let me!) You should start a new thread (maybe on the general nursing topic area) and ask for some opinions. I certainly would not recommend my program (I've since transferred out). It was actually an NP program, and I switched to a specific Education track.

[vickynurse]

Originally Posted by Kokomo

Always wondering when the question will come that I do not know the answer to. Being the honest smuck that I am, I will tell them that I will have a complete answer in detail the next time we meet.

Sometimes this is a good answer, but they will learn more if they look it up themselves or spend a little time reflecting. Always giving the answer does not build critical thinking skills. However, no one likes to hear a gruff "look it up yourself", so I find that expressing faith in their abilities to figure things out helps to build self esteem.

Good luck in your new position!
Vicky

[NPTeacher]

Originally Posted by VickyRN

Welcome to the Forum! Feel free to post here anytime. I am both a teacher (ADN students) and a student myself (MSN-Nurse Educator--due to graduate next summer!) Our nursing school is very small-a total of about 100 in all of our different programs (ADN and LPN).

Congratulations on going back to school. I, too, will graduate next summer (God willing!) with my PhD in Clinical Health Sciences. Then I will be able to get back 100% to teaching / clinical practice. I love it all, but have felt VERY stretched these last 5 years trying to do all things.

[CardioTrans]

Hi there. I wanted to chime in on this thread, I was contacted today by one of the instructors at our local community college about teaching some clinicals this coming fall semester. I have always wanted to teach clinicals, but always thought that I would have to have my BSN first. I have an ADN and am currently working on my BSN-MSN. The MSN program is a CNS in Nursing Ed. The comm college has LPN and ADN programs. Im nervous and excited all at the same time. Any words of advice????

[ksfrn66]

I started off as adjunct faculty too and am now full-time faculty with classroom and clinicals. I absolutely love it! The students keep you honest and also teach YOU alot as well. Some of the questions they ask are, well, downright simple, but others are something that I hadn't thought about or had to look up the answer myself! I have learned from them as well as them learning from me. I have 14 yrs nursing experience behind me so the clinical component didn't worry me, but the 3 hr lecture with 30 sets of eyeballs on me took some time to get used to!

[VickyRN]

Originally Posted by ksfrn66

Hello to all! I teach Med-Surg III in an ADN program at a community college in WV. I actually graduated from this program myself in 1990. I received my BSN from WVU and completed MSN from Otterbein College in Westerville, Ohio.
In August I will begin my third year of teaching and I absolutely love it! Lecturing took a little bit to get used to though....I also have clinicals on Th/Fr from 8-2p. Have Tuesdays "off" as a planning day. (don't have to go to office). We take in 65-80 students each year depending on the # of adjunct faculty we have signed on. My group for fall has 8 students which is manageable.

My question is this: what is your dress code and how well is it policed with adjuncts, etc?

Welcome, ksfrn66! Glad to have you here! I also am starting my third year of teaching... my how time flies
We have no dress code on campus (this is campus-wide and we cannot make exclusion for nursing). Thus, some of our students come to class looking like Britney Thankfully, only a few of them do this. Off campus and in clinical sites is another story. Hair has to be off the collar, no loop earrings, only one small earring stud allowed. No gaudy makeup or strong odors (no perfume, smell of cigarettes). Only wedding band and watch, no other jewelry. No body piercings, including tongue rings. (Sometimes you have to line them up and inspect them before clinicals.) No visible tatoos. (One of our students had to wear a small ace bandage over her wrist the entire time she was in clinical to "hide" a small tatoo.) NO FAKE NAILS!!! (Petri-dish for microbes--yuch!) Any skin lesions (especially herpetic lesions such as fever blisters) need to be reported to instructor before clinical (student may be infectuous and should not be allowed on site). Lab jacket with school name tag must be worn in transit and school clinical uniform must be worn while in clinical. The uniform must be neat, clean, pressed. Only white nursing shoes, no colors allowed at all. Faculty and adjunct should also abide by the clinical dress code. However, enforcing this with adjunct faculty can be a problem.

[VickyRN]

Originally Posted by vickynurse

Hi to everyone

I've been a nurse since 1975, mostly med surg & critical care. I've been in education of some sort since 1985 - staff ed, CNA, ASN, LPN. My MSN is Med-surg with double minors in teaching and supervision. I also have a post master's certificate Adult NP. It's great to see so many people who are interested in making nursing education their career specialty. I've loved it all and use all of my education every day.

I am interested to know how cultural competence is being integrated into curriculla across the nation. Is it a separate course, integrated, or ignored? I understand the upcoming NCLEX will be focusing more on this area. Any thoughts?

Good luck to all of you in your education and careers.

Vicky

Welcome, Vicky! Appreciate all of your input on the board. I posted a reply in the cultural competence thread. BTW, I love your sig line

[VickyRN]

Originally Posted by diannenurse

Hello everyone, so nice to read all the awesome nurse comments. I have my Masters in Nursing, with a Clinical Nurse specialist focus in Med/Surg. I will be teaching at the BSN level this Fall in Adult Health: Gero. and Holistic Nursing. My work history includes a Licensed School Nurse while my kids were little....the schedule was perfect. I also had two years med/surg before that. I then did clinic work and management/CNS in residential chemical dependency/detox with adults and adolescents. I am excited about teaching and would appreciate any ideas and support from experienced instructors. Thanks ahead of time.Dianne

Welcome, Dianne! I started a thread on "Tips for New Nurse Educators." Hopefully some others will post their ideas also. Sounds like you have a varied and rich background which will benefit you greatly as an instructor. If you have any specific questions, feel free to post here anytime!

[VickyRN]

Originally Posted by Kokomo

Dear VickyRN,
Thank you for the words of encouragement. I have decided to pursue a career in the educational field. I think this would be rewarding for me at this time in my life. Please feel free to pass on any advice you may have.
Thanks,
Animalangel

Welcome!!! Many bright thoughts and best wishes coming your way. Please let us know if we can encourage you in any way. If you have any specific questions, please feel free to post anytime. I have started a thread entitled "Tips for New Nurse Educators." Hopefully some of the more seasoned "veterans" will share with us their insignts and advice.

[VickyRN]

Originally Posted by CardioTrans

Hi there. I wanted to chime in on this thread, I was contacted today by one of the instructors at our local community college about teaching some clinicals this coming fall semester. I have always wanted to teach clinicals, but always thought that I would have to have my BSN first. I have an ADN and am currently working on my BSN-MSN. The MSN program is a CNS in Nursing Ed. The comm college has LPN and ADN programs. Im nervous and excited all at the same time. Any words of advice????

Welcome to the forum! Glad to have your input here. My best advice for clinicals: be prepared. Are you familiar with the unit in which you are having clinicals? If not, be sure to ask for a good orientation and "shadow" a nurse for a few shifts. Once clinicals start, go in a few hours early to check out the charts and patients (especially if the unit and patient population is unfamiliar to you). Know your students. Try to match the pt assignment/ acuity to the right student. If the student is weak, don't give him/ her the most complicated patient on the unit! Also, try to match male students with male patients. Dealing with staff nurses on the unit can be one of the most rewarding or most agonizing part of your clinical experience. Have seen some AWESOME units and one that was a snake pit (I could write a book). Thankfully, most clinical sites are student-friendly. If the atmosphere on a unit seems "toxic," trust your gut and go elsewhere