Advice for new soon-to-be instructor

[PA_RN87, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN]

I just accepted a clinical instructor job at a local tech school for their LPN program. I'm ecstatic to have this amazing opportunity. I have my BSN, with 2.5 years medical-oncology experience, and will be starting MSN studies next month. This will be the perfect job while I pursue my master's degree.

My biggest concern is having all the answers. There will be things I am rusty on, and I'm scared for the times I won't have an answer. I'm also just generally nervous as it's taking on a brand new kind of nursing.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated!

[Jules A, MSN]

I enjoyed teaching clinicals for many years although recently the BSN crowd has been a bit on the entitled, "I'm going to grad school so I really don't need to know how to do any of these lowly tasks" so I would think LPNs will be refreshing especially because they are so skill oriented. What I always try to do is give real world tips, the things that they will actually need to do as a nurse.

If you don't know the answer a simple "thats a great question, lets figure it out" and I'd get out my cell phone to research what they asked. I think you will be surprised at how much you actually do know. Congratulations and enjoy. The upcoming nurses deserve and need enthusiastic instructors.

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

You don't have to know everything. That's what they invented books, the internet, and other people for. Just work, with the students, to figure out where to find the answer...

[PA_RN87, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN]

If you don't know the answer a simple "thats a great question, lets figure it out" and I'd get out my cell phone to research what they asked. I think you will be surprised at how much you actually do know. Congratulations and enjoy. The upcoming nurses deserve and need enthusiastic instructors.

Thank you both! I feel a little less pressure to have all the answers. I'm very excited about this new opportunity. I had gotten to work with students several times while I was a floor nurse, but was often too overburdened with a heavy caseload to really work with the students. Now students get ALL of my attention :-)

[ParkerBC,MSN,RN, PhD, RN]

You will never know all of the answers. Here is what I do to help ensure students get the correct answers and that I do not become overwhelmed:

1. I create a parking lot.” Students who ask questions to which I do not know the answers are placed in the parking lot. I have sat a deadline of getting the students the answers before the beginning of the next class. However, I typically will e-mail answers within 24 hours.
   
2. On the first day of class, I log onto my employer's (clinical job) intranet. We have a tab specifically for changes in clinical practice. I narrow the dates to within the last six months. Generally, there are over 100 new changes in policy/practice. I then state something like, You see…because healthcare is always changing, there is no way to know everything” It gives the students a real perspective of EBP and how often we change clinical practice. It also establishing credibility in the beginning.
   

Good luck in your new position and with your MSN!