First time teaching MedSurg Nsg

christvs, DNP, RN, NP · Jul 7, 2005

I will be teaching Med Surg nursing for the first time this fall. I don't have any formal education experience, but have plenty of nursing experience (as RN and NP). It is very important to me that the students learn the material, and that I am an effective teacher. I have asked other faculty if students like to be involved in class, and most say 'not really', they prefer lecture because they are most comfortable with that.
I am curious if you all could tell me what style of teaching fits you best? I am very excited about teaching and have a many good ideas, but if most nursing students don't like to be interactive, then I may just stick to lecturing. Please tell me your thoughts! What makes a good teacher in your eyes? Thanks in advance! :)

Hi, I just graduated from a BSN program this past May. I admit that at first I preferred lectures too, but now that I think about it, it was a lot more interesting (and easier to stay awake at 8 AM on a Friday!) when the professors would call on us to answer questions or to have a discussion. I would say student involvement is a good idea! :)

-Christine

mariedoreen · Jul 7, 2005

My preference: Interactive lecture. An instructor who engages the class while presenting information, asks related questions, gives us real-world scenarios, uses power point (but doesn't read it to us verbatim) etc...

What I don't like: group work. I'll give you an example. While we were studying electrolytes the class was broken down into several groups of 3. Each group was given an electrolyte, say Sodium for one, and that group of three had to present info to the rest of the class on it. Each member in each group then looked up and reported on a certain aspect of that electrolyte. This was how the information for electrolytes was taught to us, in effect we were supposed to be teaching it to each other while the instructor just observed. On the surface you would think this would be an okay idea, but during the very first presentation one classmate said something that I didn't think was correct according to what I'd read. It might have been, I just wasn't sure. The result was that I consciously tuned out every presentation a class member made so that my memory was not "contaminated" with information that was potentially incorrect. I then went home and taught it to myself from the book. Every member of the class I talked to said the same thing about this group project: they learned a lot about the certain subset of info they were researching on their one electrolyte, and they learned NOTHING from any of the other presentations.

In short, I have never participated in one group project in my entire college career (I'm on my 3rd degree) that has ever benefitted me more than basic lecture.

rn2binca · Jul 7, 2005

My preference: Interactive lecture. An instructor who engages the class while presenting information, asks related questions, gives us real-world scenarios, uses power point (but doesn't read it to us verbatim) etc...
I agree!! I cannot stand when the powerpoint is used and the instructor reads it verbatim. I can read on my own. The powerpoint in my opinion should be used as an outline for the instructor to expand upon. I love lectures where discussions happen. It can't happen that way all the time or the material would never get covered, not enough time.
Good luck!
Tracy

twinmommy+2, ADN, BSN, MSN · Jul 7, 2005

I absolutly love an interactive class. I realise that it probably takes more time than a regular lecture does, but it keeps me interested. I get distracted easily. I remember in the Peds class, we had to do mock nursing care plans in groups when given a senario. That was so interesting. In a med/surg class we were all given a symptom of renal failure and asked to write on the board what caused it and any nursing interventions to treat it. That helped a ton on the test.

live4today, RN · Jul 7, 2005

Interactive plays a very important part in educating students. Lectures are a given, but the more an instructor makes the material come to life is also a sign of a great instructor. :)

suzy253, RN · Jul 7, 2005

Interactive plays a very important part in educating students. Lectures are a given, but the more an instructor makes the material come to life is also a sign of a great instructor. :)

I agree with you on this. Have had some wonderful instructors in school--I like it when they give an example from their own nursing experience as well.

elizabells, BSN, RN · Jul 7, 2005

In short, I have never participated in one group project in my entire college career (I'm on my 3rd degree) that has ever benefitted me more than basic lecture.

I agree - group work is a tool of the devil. :angryfire No matter how much the professor tries to make sure the work is fairly distributed, it never is, because one person will get frustrated and just do it all to make sure it gets done. coughMEcough. There is no greater waste of time in all the world. I suppose it's an exercise in teaching us to work in teams, like in the hospital, but we get that IN clinicals, in a situation where it's relevant. Sorry, I've just hated group work all my life, and I'm in a freakin Master's program and STILL doing it! Gaahhhh!!!

lunakat · Jul 7, 2005

My preference: Interactive lecture. An instructor who engages the class while presenting information, asks related questions, gives us real-world scenarios, uses power point (but doesn't read it to us verbatim) etc...
I agree!! I cannot stand when the powerpoint is used and the instructor reads it verbatim. I can read on my own. The powerpoint in my opinion should be used as an outline for the instructor to expand upon. I love lectures where discussions happen. It can't happen that way all the time or the material would never get covered, not enough time.
Good luck!
Tracy
There is nothing more boring than having to be in class for a 4 hour lecture at 7 am when they hand you the PowerPoint they are going to read off verbatim. Ugh I had the hardest time staying awake. I was also irritated that they took 4 hours to read exactly what they just gave us, If it was to be like that, just let us read it at home! I really dug when my 2nd semester teacher gave us lecture notes with stuff for us to fill in ahead of time and got into more detail in class. It really helped me pay more attention. Class interaction helps especially when it's a really early morning class. Harder for us to nod off... Good luck!

leopold · Jul 7, 2005

Yeah, group projects sound great but what usually ends up happening is a couple of people do all the work and the rest coast.

I had a med/surg teacher who was actually a truly horrible human being but who had had, or had someone in her family that had had just about every single disease she ever talked about. It was truly interesting to hear about that and put it in an actual context. It really stuck.

oregonrene · Jul 7, 2005

My preference: Interactive lecture. An instructor who engages the class while presenting information, asks related questions, gives us real-world scenarios, uses power point (but doesn't read it to us verbatim) etc...
What I don't like: group work.

:yeahthat: Ditto what she said!

NsgTeacher · Jul 8, 2005

I wanted to thank everyone that has responded so far, I really appreciate it. Well, I have come to the conclusion that I am going to try the interactive approach to start out, and if it isn't well received I'll change things. I think having the students answer questions, and be involved in class will help them grasp the material better than hearing me drone on for the whole 4 hours a week... I mean they'll have to hear me lecture, but I want to keep the students involved and keep them thinking.

When asking students to answer questions during reviews, would it be too "elementary school" to give rewards? Or would that make it sort of fun? I think the material is soooooo serious and complicated that a little fun to lighten things up might not be a bad idea, plus it may encourage them to participate rather than the students just look at me and no one say anything.

What do you think?

You are all great! Thanks!