As a new ADN instructor, I am very interested in hearing about GOOD QUALITIES that you students desire in instructors. SOOOO, describe to me the NURSING INSTRUCTOR of YOUR DREAMS.
Let me break this down into 2 parts:
#1--LECTURES--what sorts of lectures are most appealing to you (straight lecture, PP, reading out of the book, shooting off from the hip, etc., etc..)??? What do you NOT like in a lecture?
#2--CLINICALS--what sorts of behaviors do you LIKE in a clinical instructor? What sorts of clinical settings do you most enjoy??? What sorts of behaviors do you most DETEST in clinical instructors?
I will not start my ADN program until this fall, but one of my biggest concerns is that my instructors will be there for me. I hope that they will always find time to meet with us on an individual basis and discuss strenghths and weaknesses. I need constructive criticism, as well as a job well done here and there.
I enjoy the instructors who use stories in lecture, it helps break the monotony and let the brain rest for a minute before it goes back to being overloaded. Please don't read out of the book, students can do that on their own. Powerpoint can be very helpful as long as it matches the lecture format.
my so-far favorite clinical instructor was very competent, easy going and reassuring. She let us break dress code too so we could wear comfortable shoes. She didn't think she had to be perfect, in fact, when she did have a small goof, she just made a joke and fixed the problem. I wish there were more like her.
Wow, there is some really good stuff here. I have read every word. I just finished a semester as a clinical instructor with my first group of students. I know that a few of them are lurking on these boards and I would love to hear their input . [your grades have already been posted so your comments will not count against you].
Lecture: I say expect the students to do the reading ahead of time and then conduct the lecture as applying that information (i.e. case studies), only reviewing what is not yet understood. There is nothing more frustrating than reading a chapter and then having someone else outline it for you again. If I have not retained something by reading it once, I will not retain it by being read to, either. However, when I can apply it, I will remember it forever.
Clinical: Definitely be supportive no matter what, at least when it comes to clinical stuff. For example, if someone has made a med error, or there is a safety issue that needs to be adressed, you must teach the student, but there is no need to put him/her down while doing it. As for attitude, I think you can be stricter with that. If a student has a negative attitude to you, a patient, or another staff member, you can feel free to reprimand him/her. That is actually a problem now in my group and my instructor is so nice that she's not putting the student in her place.
Good luck to you. You show such concern, I'm sure you'll do great.
Jen2
931 Posts
I will not start my ADN program until this fall, but one of my biggest concerns is that my instructors will be there for me. I hope that they will always find time to meet with us on an individual basis and discuss strenghths and weaknesses. I need constructive criticism, as well as a job well done here and there.