Professional Standards

The College of Nurses of Ontario identifies Professional expectations for all nurses practicing in the province of Ontario. I discuss how I enact each of these expectations in my role as a nursing educator.

Professional Standards, 2002

Accountability

A nurse in the educator role demonstrates accountability in practice by:

• ensuring appropriate supervision of students
• communicating the level of preparation of the student and the objectives of the learning experience
• using standards of practice and evidence based knowledge to educate students, and
• ensuring that nurses receive the appropriate education, support and supervision when acquiring new knowledge and skills.

I believe that I demonstrate – and am expected to demonstrate – accountability in everything I do as an educator. In particular my work with students both in my role as Collaborative Coordinator, along with my role as a faculty member, require that I am accountable to teach students what it means to be a professional. In helping students at risk, I spend a great deal of time discussing the accountability expectations of the College of Nurses and what those expectations mean for us as Registered Nurses. I demonstrate accountability in meeting the University regulations for posting grades, posting course syllabi, addressing appeals or academic misconduct allegations. I also role model accountability in my interactions with students and with Clinical Instructors. I have created a Clinical handbook for students and placement agencies and am in the process of creating a clinical guide for instructors. I also frequently address questions and concerns surrounding scopes of practice for students, particularly in year 4. It is important to me that I demonstrate accountability in my practice so that others may follow suit.

Continuing Competence

A nurse in the educator role demonstrates the standard by:

• supporting students and nurses to become reflective practitioners
• developing, implementing, and facilitating learning activities that help nurses to enhance their practice
• supporting nurses to engage in ongoing learning

I demonstrate this standard through ongoing reflection on my own teaching. Every time I teach a course I reflect on what went well and what needs to change. For example, this past term I was teaching NURS 4203 and faculty advisor for 4th year students, this coincided with a particularly challenging term as Coordinator and I feel that I did not give my teaching the attention that it needed as a result. I will ensure that I find ways for better balance between the two roles and consider teaching one course at a time rather than two. In the non instructional time I will be working on incorporating evaluation methodologies that will be used for the new CRNE in 2015 into many of the courses in the BScN program so that students feel prepared to write that exam. I work with 4th year students and have them reflect on learning plans that they have created for their clinical courses. I am frequently asked to provide references for former students who are moving on in their own education. I have been asked to be a mentor to one of the new faculty in the school of nursing. Each of these examples gives me an opportunity to reflect on and make changes in my own practice.

Ethics

A nurse in the educator role demonstrates the standard by:

• encouraging and supporting critical thinking and dialogue about ethical issues, and
• assisting nurses and students to identify resources to improve recognition and resolution of ethical issues

It is also very important to me to  be ethical in my practice. I place great importance on role modelling this to students so that they see us walking the talk. I use the Ethical framework to base my practice and will refer to that when assisting students in working through clinical issues or addressing areas in their own practice. I created a Guideline for students on use of Social Media as a way of addressing ethical and confidentiality concerns related to using social media tools. When working with students experiencing issues in their practice, I use the Ethical Framework as a means of guiding our discussion into how to address those practice issues. I have also engaged students in ethical discussions in NURS 4203 Rural Nursing Practice when we discuss ethical issues around access and resource allocation in rural settings.

 

Knowledge

A nurse in the educator role demonstrates the standard by:

• identifying and evaluating information sources that are useful for professional practice
• promoting an environment that facilitates questioning and learning
• possessing/developing knowledge of teaching-learning  theories and practices

Most recently I have decided to focus my personal learning on using technology to enhance teaching and nursing practice. My greatest learning has come from micro-blogging sources such as Twitter. I have a number of education technology sources that are part of my personal learning network. I am constantly connecting with new sources so that I can learn and then take that information into my work with students.

Knowledge Application

A nurse in the educator role demonstrates the standard by:

• planning and implementing creative learning opportunities for students/nurses
• critically analyzing and evaluating nursing practice and education, and
• creating an environment where learning is encouraged

Building on the comments listed in Knowledge, I apply that learning in my teaching by using and sharing those resources that I have come across. For example, in my work over the past 2 terms with Community students on the Mental Health Initiative I came across a great deal of information on campus and youth mental health. I then shared this with the students, who have now also incorporated social media into the tool that has been created. I support and encourage a questioning approach with students, which helps me reflect on what I have learned or need to learn. I am always seeking feedback on my teaching and my teaching effectiveness evaluations are always positive.

Leadership

A nurse in the educator role demonstrates the standard by:

• role-modeling the development of expertise and leadership qualities,
• enabling others to develop expertise and confidence in their abilities, and
• providing professional and educational advice to committees and teams

I display formal leadership in my role as Collaborative Coordinator, more importantly, I demonstrate informal leadership on a daily basis by role modeling to students and clinical instructors. I provide leadership on committees both within the school of Nursing and externally, on COUPN, the e-health advisory committee and BPG work. I support clinical instructors in managing situations with students so that they too, develop leadership abilities. Finally, I support students to see themselves as developing leaders in clinical practice.

Relationships

A nurse in the educator role demonstrates the standard by:

• role-modeling therapeutic nurse-client resolution skills, and
• identifying and supporting education related to professional and therapeutic relationships

I role model conflict resolution skills to students and clinical instructors and often have to assist them in working through such situations. I have had to assist 4th year students in managing issues of conflict with preceptors who may have expectations that are different than those of the student. I also ensure that when we are introducing simulaiton work into the lab that we include opportunities to address therapeutic relationship skills so that the students treat the manikin as they would a “real” patient.

 

Professional Relationships

A nurse in the educator role demonstrates the standard by:

• facilitating the development of conflict resolution skills, and
• supporting nurses to develop skills to address unethical, unprofessional or unsafe behavior of colleagues

Achievement of this standard echoes the comments made above. I feel it is essential for students to develop their conflict resolution skills and spend much time assisting them in doing this either in clinical or in work with their peers. I try to facilitate effective relationships with my peers and foster an open working environment.