Teaching or educating?

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So, they always say we educate patients. What do you all say, would you say we educate patients or teach patients? What is the difference? When I googled the difference in the words, it says that an educator is more of a life-long teacher/mentor. Thoughts?

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Po-tay-to, po-tah-to. My personal opinion is that "educator" is just an unnecessarily fancy word for "teacher," same as "utilize" is an unnecessarily fancy word for "use."

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Specializes in retired LTC.
Po-tay-to, po-tah-to. My personal opinion is that "educator" is just an unnecessarily fancy word for "teacher," same as "utilize" is an unnecessarily fancy word for "use."
Peruse a tome or read a book, etc ad infinitum. :cheeky:

But to address OP's question - do I teach how to give an injection or do I educate how to give the injection? Because I'm expecting a return measure of skill competency, I guess I'm teaching.

But do I teach S&S of hypertension or do I educate about S&S? Sounds more uncertain. I guess the end result would be for 'pt is able to verbalize S&S ...' Still uncertain. But sounds like I'm educating. Yes?

OP - why did you ask one of those kinds of questions in the universe's grand scheme of things that'll make me lose sleep? (Just kidding - am being smarty here.) It is a good question though.

Kind of like why is the sky blue? (I can answer that one.)

I do agree with PP - pretty much equal.

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Specializes in retired LTC.
Po-tay-to, po-tah-to. My personal opinion is that "educator" is just an unnecessarily fancy word for "teacher," same as "utilize" is an unnecessarily fancy word for "use."
Peruse the tome or read the book, etc ad infinitum. :cheeky:

But to address OP's question - do I teach how to give an injection or do I educate how to give the injection? Because I'm expecting a return measure of skill competency, I guess I'm teaching.

But do I teach S&S of hypo/hyperglycemia or do I educate about S&S? Sounds more uncertain. I guess the end result would be for 'pt is able to verbalize S&S ...' Still uncertain.

OP - why did you ask one of those kinds of questions in the universe's grand scheme of things that'll make me lose sleep? (Just kidding - am being smarty here.) It was a good question though.

Kind of like why is the sky blue? Or why does butter clarify? I can answer those. :)

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Po-tay-to, po-tah-to. My personal opinion is that "educator" is just an unnecessarily fancy word for "teacher," same as "utilize" is an unnecessarily fancy word for "use."

Or "ambulate" for "walk," and "verbalize" for "say" or "talk." Plain English is always best; fancier words don't make you look smarter. Try to remember that when you write your care plans.

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I have a teaching degree as well as a nursing degree. On my resume I have put "Educator" for my years of teaching as I had many different roles. I have had several interviews that seem to think that an "educator" does more than a "teacher". I just find it interesting that we always say we are "educating" our patients and usually not "teaching" them.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Eh. I work as a bariatric nurse educator. I am finishing my MSN in nursing education. And I love to teach.

Six one, half dozen the other.

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I think educating somewhat implies that the outcome is an educated recipient. I can't say that the amount of time I can dedicate to teaching leaves my patients as *educated*.

I can teach patients and caregivers to infuse their IV meds with good technique and verbalize understanding of signs/symptoms to report, but that doesn't make them educated.

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Specializes in retired LTC.

Libby - I like your thinking to this conundrum. :sarcastic: (Note - am only being sarcastic to myself for word 'conundrum' use.)

AliNaja -I do agree with you. I was just being smarty.

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I teach new nurses to give shots!

Or, do I educate orientees to administer injections?

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I teach new nurses to give shots!

Or, do I educate orientees to administer injections?

In nursing, it's definitely the latter! We love syllables; the more, the better! :rolleyes:

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I felt compelled to answer this question and I tried to do some research before I started as I realized my answer would appear as though I was speaking in circles. In my humble opinion, there is a difference. To teach is to help someone learn how to do something by showing them or by providing lessons on the topic. Education, I believe is more formal. To educate is to train by formal instruction and supervised practice especially in a skill, trade, or profession. The teaching of civilization began in prehistory, as adults trained the young in the knowledge and skills deemed necessary in their society. In pre-literate societies this was achieved orally and through imitation. This sounds to me like the teaching that is done when a child first starts school or to learn letters or numbers done by parents or babysitters. As knowledge is extended beyond skills that can be readily learned through imitation, formal education is developed. Teaching is done by a teacher; educating is done by an educator. In order to educate one must teach; when teaching, it is not necessary in my opinion to educate.

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