How do you teach nursing theory?

[CraigB-RN]

How do you teach nursing theory?

i have issues with some of the theories out there. A few that are actually sound educational theories that have been around for years before doctoral candidate in nursing got their hands on them and put the term nurse all over them.

Having been exposed to the Dreyfus brothers for a a couple of years before Benner put her brand on the Novice to expert, I'm comfortable teaching that. Some on the other hand sound to much like a religious cult than something that should be taught in a professional nursing program.

I've started teaching theory as a learning tool and and a way to focus thoughts based on your goals as a nurse and a person. I'm spending less time on the actually theories themselves.

My co workers are giving me the old, it's a guy thing kind of response.

[llg, PhD, RN]

It sounds like you have/will have an interesting job with that multi-disciplinary clinical education. I hope you enjoy it. My "day job" is in Staff Development and I only teach theory part time as an adjunct. So I feel as if I have my feet in both the academic world and the practice world. Maybe that is why I can relate to the points you raise.

[CraigB-RN, MSN, RN]

The whole purpose of this interdisciplinary concept is to try to instill team work. Putting a foley in is the same if your a RN, PA, MD or whatever. Wherever possible like things will be taught together as a group. We've got a grant pending to help fund some of it. Goal is to have RN's that aren't afraid of providers and providers that respect nurses and what they can do because they have trained together and trained each other.

Of course I won't be the one publishing the results in a couple of years. It was actually the idea of a couple of Doc's

[Natasha A., CNA, LVN]

As a student nurse, I would say incorporate more scenarios (think pair share) in theory would be helpful