Any young nurse educators out there..

VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN · Nov 2, 2004

We welcome you to the profession, Emma! Unfortunately, you won't receive a lot of replies from "young" nurse educators--the average age of nursing faculty is 52 and we are aging out fast! :eek: :uhoh21:

If this is any help, I am young in heart!

We very much need you and if there is anything we can do to encourage you, please let us know! We are here for you :)

llg, PhD, RN · Nov 3, 2004

I am old now ... 49 ... but back when I was 26, I found myself teaching graduate school. Yes, I was one of the first people to get a Master's Degree in the field of neonatal ICU nursing and was therefore quite in demand for teaching positions in other programs that were opening up offering courses in NICU.

You raise an interesting and important question. It is important for a teacher to establish himself/herself as being at a level "above" the students in some ways -- not necessarily a better person, or a complete expert in everything, etc. -- but there must be some differentiation. You are the one who needs to take charge of the decisions related to class ... choose learning priorities, provide opportunities for them to learn, evaluate their work, award grades, etc. They need to accept your right (and obligation) to those sorts of things. If you are too much "one of them," you may run into difficulties if and when you have to make some tough decisions.

I would suggest finding a mentor. You might find one here, but you should also be looking among the other faculty members to take advantage of their knowledge of yoru particular workplace. It doesn't need to be someone who is also young. In fact, it should be someone with more experience than you ... someone who can give you some advice and help you keep developing your skills and role in a positive direction.

I've had mixed experiences with teaching over the years. While I have enjoyed some aspects of it, I have also struggled with some of the politics. Being young and naive can be dangerous. Finding some mentors and "friends" among your faculty colleagues can be very helpful.

Good luck,

llg

LDMooreRN · Nov 22, 2004

Hi Emma! I am 30 years old (not quite as young as you :)) and was just hired as the newest full time nursing faculty member at a community colllege in Illinois. I knew that I was going to be in the minority (age wise) going into nursing education.

How do I differentiate myself from the students? I have them call me Mrs. Moore. No exceptions. Some may think that's too formal, but being a new nurse educator and especially since I look much younger than 30, I feel that I HAVE to be addressed like that. It's very simple, but it establishes a boundary with my students and helps remind them (and myself) what kind of relationship we have. We NEED to differentiate ourselves from them.

As for being laid back and friendly...as long as you maintain your professionalism, remain objective and are able to help your students, I don't think that's a big deal. However, like llg said in the previous post, "If you are too much "one of them," you may run into difficulties if and when you have to make some tough decisions." I find myself being very careful with how I interact with my students.

One of our adjunct faculty members is notorious for being too buddy buddy with the students. And honestly, she is not well liked nor respected. Many of the students would not feel comfortable confiding in her because of her obvious lack of boundaries.

Okay, so that's my spiel...kind of long for my first post!! Anyway, it's great knowing that another young nurse educator is out there. I'll keep an eye out for your posts...

Lisa

BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN · Dec 3, 2004

interesting thread. i thought i was going to be a 'young' educator (32 when i graduate the master's program). guess not. i am by far the youngest one i have seen in my program thus far (at my school). i have often thought about that same issue. i am very friendly, outgoing, and like to share my experiences with new orientees at work (i am not teaching yet). i was a nurse at 20, and feel i can relate to the young'uns. as far as the 'older' students, i'm not sure how that will pan out. i almost feel like i will have more to prove to anyone who is older than me. like they'll be thinking "how long have you been a nurse?"

does anyone give you a hard time with the 'mrs' thing? how about 'professor..."?

llg, PhD, RN · Dec 3, 2004

How do I differentiate myself from the students? I have them call me Mrs. Moore. No exceptions. Some may think that's too formal, but being a new nurse educator and especially since I look much younger than 30, I feel that I HAVE to be addressed like that. It's very simple, but it establishes a boundary with my students and helps remind them (and myself) what kind of relationship we have. We NEED to differentiate ourselves from them.
Lisa

Great post, good points. Reading your response made me think of our "professional relations" policy at my hospital. Yes, we want to be warm and friendly with the patients ... but we need to maintain an appropriate professional distance and appropriate professional boundaries. The teacher-student relationship is really very similar.

llg

LDMooreRN · Dec 5, 2004

as far as the 'older' students, i'm not sure how that will pan out. i almost feel like i will have more to prove to anyone who is older than me. like they'll be thinking "how long have you been a nurse?"
does anyone give you a hard time with the 'mrs' thing? how about 'professor..."?

none of my older students ever questioned my level of experience. i think it's because they know that i do have more nursing experience than they do. of course they're older and have more life experience, but they know that's different than the amount of nursing knowledge they have compared to me. they're very respectful of it and i'm grateful for that.

no one gives me a hard time with the "mrs" thing at all. the students don't even think twice about it, even if they're older than me. some of my students can't even bring themselves to call me "lisa" after they've graduated and passed boards! i thought that was pretty amusing... :rolleyes:

stbernardclub · Dec 5, 2004

:rotfl:

mlally3 · Dec 17, 2004

Hello!

I'm considered "young"- 35- but honestly, I look like a college student. :uhoh21:

I'm full time now, teaching pediatrics and I love it. I'm also a PNP. The first day of classes, I usually say something to the effect of....I know I look young, but I actually have 13 years of pedi RN experience, etc. hoping they can quesstimate my age. I feel more comfortable going by my first name. I think I do maintain good boundaries with the students. The adjunct I work with is in her 20's...I think the students think we make a "cool" team. I just try to be as prepared as I can for lectures and not let myself get too self conscious. In clinical...I don't feel as strange...since the group is smaller.

Great question!!! I'm the youngest of the faculty...in fact, newly pregnant-everyone else has college kids!!!

mlally3 · Dec 17, 2004

Hello!

I'm considered "young"- 35- but honestly, I look like a college student. :uhoh21:

I'm full time now, teaching pediatrics and I love it. I'm also a PNP. The first day of classes, I usually say something to the effect of....I know I look young, but I actually have 13 years of pedi RN experience, etc. hoping they can quesstimate my age. I feel more comfortable going by my first name. I think I do maintain good boundaries with the students. The adjunct I work with is in her 20's...I think the students think we make a "cool" team. I just try to be as prepared as I can for lectures and not let myself get too self conscious. In clinical...I don't feel as strange...since the group is smaller.

Great question!!! I'm the youngest of the faculty...in fact, newly pregnant-everyone else has college kids!!!

pmchap · Jan 21, 2005

One question about looking young then onto being a young educator. All of you early 30's lectures - how young do you look. I am 33 and don't think my 'look' has changed in ages (except for the extra padding), but I still have people thinking that I am in my 40's. I know that with my students there is know issue with respect - because it is mutual. I might be there to teach and help the students learn something - but they have just as much right to respect as I do. There are some guidelines that are underling all this though (maybe it is because I am male in a female dominated industry) first - there is an awareness from students that they are there to learn something - so they listen. Second they are there by choice (even moreso with older students) and they usually put in a more concerted effort. Third they dont know what they dont know - sometimes it is a challenge to get a student to realise that they can learn something new, but exposure to a new experience or an acute episode on a ward usually makes them pull there heads in a little. Finally the value of our teaching isnt measured by how our students percieve us but rather by the way that patients percieve our students.

Cheers

pmchap

Nesher, BSN, RN · Jan 21, 2005

Wow Mrs? I would have a very difficult time with that type of title as it seems artifical in the sense that you are using it to simply make yourself seem more mature and therefore worthy of the students respect.