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Pursue Continuous Quality Improvement in the Nurse Educator Role
NLN Core Competency VI: Pursue Continuous Quality Improvement in the Nurse Educator Role
The health care field is constantly changing with advancing technology and research findings. Nurse educators must maintain competency in their role and demonstrate a lifelong commitment to learning (Halstead, 2007). It is important to seek out opportunities to participate in professional development and contribute to the quality of the nursing program. Here are a few reasons why I believe it is important for nurse educators to maintain clinical competence:
1. Improving patient care.
2. Maintaining clinically relevant curriculum.
3. Promoting research and practice application (Good & Schubert, 2001).
I believe that faculty that are clinically competent are better able to give patient care, whether in clinical or as a bedside nurse. They are comfortable with stressful situations and competent in their skills. They can teach their students best practice as well as be a role model in patient care. It is important to have relevant curriculum. Changes in healthcare are continuous and faculty need to be up to date with these changes so they can implement them into the curriculum. It is also important for students to see research being utilized in practice. Faculty can be a part of research and show examples of what changes have been made to improve patient care. I think faculty who are engaged in continuous quality improvement are able to better help students learn the necessary material to be competent nurses.
As a nurse, I have attended numerous conference, certifications, and skills labs to maintain my competency in the medical field. As a nurse educator, I hope to continue to attend conferences, certifications, and labs to keep up to date with best practice. I plan to obtain my Certification for Nurse Educators (CNE) within the next two years. I also have a deep interest in simulation and hope to be able to be a part of this in the program where I work.
References
Good, D. M., & Schubert, C. R. (2001). Faculty practice: How it enhances teaching. Journal of Nursing Education, 40(9), 389-396.
Halstead, J. A. (2007). Nurse educator competencies: Creating an evidence-based practice for nurse educators. New York, NY: National League for Nursing.
