NLN Draft of Core Competencies of Nurse Educators

Published Jan 3, 2005

VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN

49 Articles; 5,349 Posts

Specializes in Gerontological, cardiac, med-surg, peds.

http://www.nln.org/profdev/competency.htm

Core Competencies of Nurse Educators

Competency 1 - Facilitate Learning

To effectively facilitate learning the nurse educator:

Implements a variety of teaching strategies appropriate to content, setting, learner's needs, and desired learner outcomes

Grounds teaching strategies in a theoretical foundation and evidence-based practices

Considers multicultural influences on teaching and learning

Engages in self-reflection and continued learning to improve teaching practices

Skilled in the use of informational technologies and their appropriate use in supporting the teaching-learning process

Practices skilled oral, written, and electronic communication that reflects an awareness of self and relationships with others and an ability to convey ideas in a variety of contexts including evaluation, collaboration, mentorship, and supervision

Models critical and reflective thinking practices for students

Shows enthusiasm for teaching, learning, and nursing that inspires and motivates students

Possesses personal attributes that facilitates learning, including caring, confidence, patience, honesty, flexibility, and taking interest in, and respecting students

Develops collegial working relationships with clinical agency personnel to promote positive learning environments for students

Maintains the professional practice knowledge base needed to instruct learners in contemporary nursing practice

Serves as a role model of professional nursing in the practice setting

Competency 2 - Facilitate Learner Development and Socialization

To effectively facilitate learner development and socialization, the nurse educator:

Assesses and identifies individual learning styles and unique learning needs of diverse learners including, but not limited to: international, adult, non-traditional, multi-cultural, educationally disadvantages, physically challenged, at-risk, and second degree students

Develops strategies to meet the unique needs of diverse learners

Advises and counsels students effectively

Creates learning environments that facilitate students' critical thinking, self-reflection, personal goal setting, and experience in the nurse role

Fosters the cognitive, psychomotor, and values development of learners

Identifies differing and changing societal values that affect individual learner needs

Understands the influence of teaching styles and interpersonal interactions on learner behaviors

Assists learners to develop the ability to engage in thoughtful and constructive self and peer evaluation

Models professional behaviors for students (e.g., involvement in professional organizations, engagement in lifelong learning activities, dissemination of information through publications and presentations, and advocacy for health care policy changes through political advocate for health care policy issues, etc.)

Competency 3 - Use Assessment and Evaluation Strategies

To effectively use assessment and evaluation strategies the nurse educator:

Selects assessment and evaluation strategies that are appropriate to the desired learning outcomes for theory and clinical practice

Uses results of formative and summative evaluations to enhance the teaching-learning process

Demonstrates skill in test design, test construction, and item analysis

Provides timely, constructive, and thoughtful feedback to learners

Competency 4 - Participate in Curriculum Design and Evaluation of Program Outcomes

To effectively participate in curriculum design and evaluation of program outcomes the nurse educator:

Ensures the curriculum reflects current trends in health care, addresses community and societal needs, and prepares graduates for practice in a complex, dynamic health care environment

Demonstrates knowledge of curriculum development such as identifying program outcomes, developing competency statements, writing course objectives, and selecting appropriate learning activities and evaluation methods

Bases curriculum design and implementation decisions on sound educational principals, theory, and research

Revises the curriculum based assessment of program outcomes, learner needs, and societal trends

Collaborates with external constituencies, seeking input as appropriate, when engaged in curriculum change

Uses change strategies to effectively manage implementation of curricular change

Designs and implements program assessment models that promote continuous quality improvement of all aspects of the program

Competency 5 - Function as Change Agents and Leaders

To effectively function as a change agent and leader the nurse educator:

Models cultural relativity in activities relating to the diversity and complexity of factors that influence the educational enterprise

Integrates a long-term, innovative, and creative perspective into the nurse educator role

Participates in interdisciplinary efforts to address health care and educational needs regionally, nationally and internationally

Develops leadership skills to shape and implement change

Implements strategies for organizational change

Promotes innovation in practices in community, health care, and educational environments

Develops new models of education to meet the needs of a changing healthcare system

Competency 6 - Develop Educator Role

To effectively develop the educator role the nurse educator:

Demonstrates commitment to life-long learning about teaching and learning

Recognizes that career development needs change as experience is gained in the role

Participates in personal and professional development opportunities to increase effectiveness in the role

Balances effectively the teaching, scholarship, and service demands inherent in the role of the educator

Uses feedback gained from self, peer, student, and administrative evaluation to increase role effectiveness

Seeks out activities that promote socialization to the role

Uses knowledge of the legal and ethical issues relevant to higher education and nursing education in influencing, designing and implementing policies and procedures

Mentors novice faculty

Competency 7 - Engage in Scholarship

To effectively engage in scholarship the nurse educator:

Draws on evidenced-based literature to improve teaching

Exhibits a spirit of inquiry about teaching and learning

Designs and implements scholarly activities in an established area of expertise

Disseminates nursing and teaching expertise through various means and to a variety of audiences

Demonstrates skill in proposal writing for grants and other funding initiatives

Demonstrates qualities of a scholar: integrity, courage, perseverance, vitality and creativity

Competency 8 - Function Within the Educational Environment

To effectively function within the educational environment the nurse educator:

Uses knowledge of the history of and current trends and issues in higher education as rationale for appropriate actions

Identifies how social, economic, political, and institutional forces influence nursing education

Develops networks, collaboratives and partnerships to enhance nursing's influence within the academic community

Situates own professional goals within the context of academic nursing and the mission of the parent institution of the nursing education unit

Integrates the values of respect, collegiality, professionalism, and caring to build and organizational climate that fosters the development of students and teachers

Attends to the goals of the nursing program and the mission of the parent institution when proposing change or managing issues

Assumes a leadership role in institutional governance

Participates in the political process to advocate for nursing and nursing education

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