Clinical Instructor Preparation

purplemania, BSN, RN · May 5, 2006

My Master's degree is in Nursing EDUCATION. Therefore, I had several education courses, including curriculum development, testing, etc. I believe many staff development people just sorta wing it on their own and match the method of teaching to the situation. Creative people are able to do this. A mentor helps, but is not always available. My best advice is to learn what the objectives are for the organization as a whole then steer your education of the staff to those objectives. For instance, I learned from the Quality nurse that we have had some med errors related to dosing new insulin so I created an inservice on diabetic meds. If you keep asking managers and nurses and others what they want, they will tell you.

llg, PhD, RN · May 5, 2006

I think the OP is asking about getting a job with a nursing school as an instructor of nursing students ....not as a staff development instructor.

I've only been a clinical instructor for a school once in my life (4-year, BSN program) and I received very little orientation. A couple of days that covered the required paperwork and a few key policies and that was it. I did have a mentor who was very nice who gave me some good advice. However, since we rarely saw each other, she was able to be of limited help.

I was promised a lot of orientation and support when I was hired -- but they didn't provide half of what they promised. They also threw me into teaching an adult med-surg rotation immediately with no clinical orientation in spite of the fact that I had never worked anything but NICU in my whole life.

That's why I quit that job and never tried to be a clinical instructor again. I have been much happier in staff development.

llg

VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN · May 5, 2006

I am curious about the preparation of clinical instructors. As a nearly minted MSN in education (graduation this summer) I am wondering what to expect -
Have novice clinical instructors received orientation to how to teach, the clinical facility, material to be covered in clinical (not tasks but issues like how to give and get report...)?
Do novice instructors have a formal/informal mentor?
If orientation was provided please explain what it consisted of and how long it was. Please also indicate if you teach in 2, 3, or 4 year program, what state you are in, and your educational preparation for the clinical instructor role.
If you have insight into the necessity of orientation or what orientation to the clinical instructor role should consist of I would appreciate your thoughts.
Thank You for sharing

I teach in a 21-month ADN program and am a full time instructor (duties encompass both the classroom - 20+ subjects - and conducting clinicals - currently 4 or 5 distinct clinical sites spread out over 3 semesters). I am able to "step in," if need be (other instructor absence or sickness), on 2 or 3 other units.

Unfortunately, I was provided little orientation to either the classroom or clinical and learned the hard way (by the school of hard knocks). In hindsight, this was a disservice both to me and to my students.

Definitely insist on a real orientation, with the opportunity to observe another clinical instructor on the unit, and then "co-leading" your clinical group with another experienced instructor for 1 or 2 times before you "launch out" on your own. It would also be an immense help to have a trusted faculty mentor assigned to you. The first 1-2 years of teaching can be so tough - you really need that encouragement, guidance, and moral support.

Susurro · May 6, 2006

Thanks everyone for your replies - they are helpful. I am sorry to hear about the lack of preparation of clinical instructors. Students deserve more.

I hope others will reply - every bit of information helps -