The Nurse Educator in the 21st Century Age of Technology

INTRODUCTION:  Please Click Here for a quick intro to my blog. 

Graphic retrieved on 3.31.17 from:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TrYxbyIGQg

         During this age of student-centered pedagogy and technological enhancements, I envision the classroom that I teach in much differently than the memory of my own nursing classroom two plus decades ago.  The swift technological advances made over the last twenty years have driven the significant transformation to nursing, education, as well as the world of healthcare.  Nursing care, active teaching styles, and advancing technologies have prompted nurse educators all over the world to rethink the ways in which they engage students in the classroom, skills lab and clinical environments.  While I certainly appreciate the traditional teaching styles utilized by my predecessors, I recognize and appreciate the growth and look forward to the challenge of incorporating student-centered pedagogy and 21^st century technology into my classroom.  

The need to grow within the nursing profession became significantly evident within the 2010 IOM recommendations.  The directives reference swift and significant changes to nursing classrooms across the US, as the importance of utilizing innovative teaching strategies and technology to engage students has become significantly imperative as the need for nursing staff increases nationwide. The baby boomer generation has instigated a shift in the need for nurses prompting changes to admission policies, class sizes and teaching strategies throughout nursing programs in the US in an effort to meet increasing patient care needs.  Utilization of virtual learning experiences, online courses, computer simulation training, and hospital teaching units are just some of the ways nursing programs are beginning to meet the recommendations of the 2010 IOM utilizing 21^st century technology to meet increasing patient care needs across the country.  

As a nursing instructor in the 21^st century, I have accepted the challenge to maintain an innovate and active theory and clinical teaching environment for the students that I am fortunate to teach.  At the same time, it I am also committed to use of the QSEN competencies in an effort to ensure that my students maintain accountability, and provide safe, comprehensive and effective patient care throughout their clinical experiences as a student and future practicing nurse.  Providing state of the art comprehensive and efficient education to new nurses, as well as remaining dedicated to the legacy of a profession that is highly regarded as the most compassionate in the world, is the greatest way to ensure positive, quality student and patient outcomes in the future.

VIDEO:  21st Century Nursing