Here we go.....I have been working as an educator for Neuro and Med-Surg. Floors for 2 years now and it seems like I am vividly noticing a sense of dissatisfaction in my job. I feel that majority of the nurses do not take me seriously, very argumentative when asked to attend classes. I could definitely see I don't have the buy-in of the staff.
As an educator of this organization, I am expected to be visible on the units, 75% of the time, on top of teaching classes, and teach general nursing orientation. I find these expectations unrealistic likewise frustrating.
i used to be very excited going to work, looking forward to see my nurses. Recently, I feel that I'm dragging myself because of no passion at all. I feel that this job is not as rewarding as I thought it would be. The 2 managers and directors of these units are exhausting enough to get along with. I don't see their support either only if a project is to their benefit, then they make my in-service mandatory.
Is nursing education really not as rewarding vs working bedside?
this is my first job as a nurse educator so I can't reference it from any past experience. I want to quit my job but unsure if I should?
Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency, Education, Informatics.
I agree it's not my job to police things. It is my job to recomend priorities, and in some cases insist on certain priorities. The rest is to provide multiple different ways to get the information out there.
Somethings I can break down into small chunks that can be passed out at report. Some knowldge based stuff I can provide differnt ways for them to get the info. I enjoy exerimenting. Using the Web 2.0 (social media, cringe) to get the word out, following the doc's and #FOAMed. When it comes to skills, I enlist supervisors and do as much on the job as possible. Goal is to limit mandatory meeting to no more than 4 a year.
I was fortunate and had a good mentor many many years back. I take repsonsiblity for my product, not the staff. Now sometiems my bosses haven't seen it that way.
But all in all this is an exiting time to be an educator. Lots of changes, lots of new pedogogy, ( yeah I'm a PhD cnadate. I had to put that in there). unfortunatly Patricia Benner was an optimist in her Noivce to Expert. Once I realized that some nurses were content to repeat the same day again and again, never learning anything new and advancing, i stopped loosing sleep, and focus on having fun.
Greg, I realize that the problem is my extreme push for the nurses to learn when I am so blind-sided by the some muses' content to monotony of their tasks.
You seem to be very adept with utilizing technology in education. What are other newer technological materials I can utilize to educate staff? I was wanting to try "thread Responses" mimicked from online classes. Any thoughts on resources of this kind of program?
Just wanted to bump this thread. (full disclosure) I've been a nurse educator since the Earth's crust was cooling.
Most new nurse educators lack formal education in the 'discipline of education'... they have learned about their new role via OJT (on the job training). The result? Knowledge & performance are limited by what has been experienced in that setting. Efforts are focused on continuation of the status quo... AKA 'that's the way it has always been done'. It can be very difficult to move past that barrier because change is uncomfortable for most people.
As a department educator, the development and maintenance of staff competency is probably your focus. There are a jillion ways to accomplish this. Traditional inservices are the most costly - and most boring - method. Get a copy of Donna Wright's wonderful book... The Ultimate Guide to Competency Assessment in Health Care, Third Edition. It will be the best $30 you ever spend & will open your eyes to a plethora of alternative methods. Also, please entertain the idea of continuing your formal education - to develop your own skills & knowledge about education. In my organization, BSN is required for staff development coordinators & an MSN is entry-level for nurse 'educator' roles.
New educators I have worked with over the years generally find it very challenging to move from the "sage on the stage" teacher (which they really like) to the more effective role of facilitator. We need to keep in mind that no one can develop expertise without effort... theirs not the teacher's. It is our role to help in this effort by providing resources and guidance. We can't do it for them. It's up to the manager to create incentives so that staff feel that the effort is worthwhile, which may include establishing expectations and enforcing them.
Like PP's, I am an enthusiastic supporter of ANPD & urge you to join. They have resources and mentors available to help you move ahead as an educator.
Here's an inexpensive technology that you may wan to try -- IF your IT department is OK with it -- incorporate social media into your work. Be sure to get this "Blessed" by organizational leaders FIRST. Create a private (invitation only) group on LinkedIn, Facebook, Google, or any other platform that is most commonly used. Use the group to post educational materials and generate feedback discussions. You can have a different group for preceptors - to provide advice and coaching for them. How about creating a Twitter account dedicated to staff development with a "question of the day" ? You can set up a private YouTube channel for your organization - for videos of short inservices or 'how to' demos for equipment.
Have Fun! You're smart, adventurous, fun and fearless... you're an educator!!!
HouTx guide, you sure are an Educator, very motivating words you shared to ll of us reading your post. I have a ,Masters in Nursing and very bored currently so i am taking the CMSRN certification this coming May. I do have Donna Wrights book and went to her convention meeting here in Houston. However, i seem to be having gazillions of road blocks educating 2 departments. There is an obvious resistance coming from the leadership team and their notion of an educator is "putting out fire" kind of education.when there are problems on the floor they always deem the problem as an educational issue versus a compliance issue. Very exhausting and complex personalities that i deal with on a daily basis.
I do like your advice in joining the ANDP and learn some newer strategies to ensure that i develop my skills as an educator and to develop my nurses knowledge and skills to the best of their abilities.
Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency, Education, Informatics.
I second that. Make sure you clear it with your IT department. But there are a ton of tools out there.
I use a program called doodlecast on my iPad that lets me turn Powerpoint into video with sound. We've got a youtube channel that I use. I send out stuff though a mix of twitter, and SMS. A group SMS on simple little rings like "Scrub The Hub" seems to work well. I"ve also done things like added little tidbits to screen savers.
Sometimes you have just pull people in though. I try to make it worth their while when I can. Food is a good thing. The Docs will sometimes kick in $ for Pizza.
It's cost effective to produce, if you've got the talent
If you're on twitter look up hashtag #FOAMed for things.
CraigB-RN, MSN, RN
1,224 Posts
I agree it's not my job to police things. It is my job to recomend priorities, and in some cases insist on certain priorities. The rest is to provide multiple different ways to get the information out there.
Somethings I can break down into small chunks that can be passed out at report. Some knowldge based stuff I can provide differnt ways for them to get the info. I enjoy exerimenting. Using the Web 2.0 (social media, cringe) to get the word out, following the doc's and #FOAMed. When it comes to skills, I enlist supervisors and do as much on the job as possible. Goal is to limit mandatory meeting to no more than 4 a year.
I was fortunate and had a good mentor many many years back. I take repsonsiblity for my product, not the staff. Now sometiems my bosses haven't seen it that way.
But all in all this is an exiting time to be an educator. Lots of changes, lots of new pedogogy, ( yeah I'm a PhD cnadate. I had to put that in there). unfortunatly Patricia Benner was an optimist in her Noivce to Expert. Once I realized that some nurses were content to repeat the same day again and again, never learning anything new and advancing, i stopped loosing sleep, and focus on having fun.