Nurse Educators are Nurses Too

oramar · Jan 2, 2003

Would you mind someone not in education making a comment? I just want to say that what you do is very important, matter of fact it is indispensible. I think you are underpaid and overworked. I cringe when I read articles in the paper that say nursing education is so expensive because there must be a 1 to 12 ratio educator to student in clinical. I am so afraid that someone might think they should bump it up to 1 to 15 or something. If you ask me it should be 1 to 8 or 10. Thanks for everything, God bless you. Keep up the good work 'cause I sure appreciate you.

llg, PhD, RN · Jan 2, 2003

Once, when I was in graduate school, I wrote a paper called "Real Nurses." It made the point and outlined a model whereby all of us nurses away from the bedside are still real nurses. We are all doing things based on our nursing knowledge that help the patients. We just don't all do the same tasks.

Also, I practiced what to say when people would make comments that suggested I wasn't a real nurse anymore because I wasn't at the bedside much. For example, when I would be in the unit helping a patient, someone might say, "Oh, you're working today?" I learned to say, "I work every day. I just don't do the same job for the patients that you do."

It may seem trite, but I believe that it is important to teach people that we are all real nurses. It doesn't do the profession (nor the patients) any good to denigrate those who choose to serve in teaching, management, or research positions. All of us are needed.

llg

Q. · Jan 5, 2003

llg,

You are my hero. Bravo!

baseline · Jan 5, 2003

Amen!!!

Vsummer1 · Jan 5, 2003

Originally posted by oramar
I cringe when I read articles in the paper that say nursing education is so expensive because there must be a 1 to 12 ratio educator to student in clinical. I am so afraid that someone might think they should bump it up to 1 to 15 or something. If you ask me it should be 1 to 8 or 10. Thanks for everything, God bless you. Keep up the good work 'cause I sure appreciate you.

Yikes, our program never has had as many as even 10 students to one instructor. We have 8 or 9!

In fact, I was incredibly lucky with my assignment. My instructor was the best, and I am so glad she made the decision to teach us!

renerian, BSN, RN · Jan 5, 2003

I ran into the same thing when I did education/QI. I helped the hands on caregivers by having current p&P, processes and equipment and hands on nurses told me that time and time again. Even though I did call and night visits....

renerian