Philosophy Statement
As a Masters prepared nurse with a focus on education I feel it is important to develop a professional philosophy. My philosophy has been developed by my experience as an educator, a student, and a bedside nurse. I have been able to use these experiences along with other life experiences to craft my philosophy.
My ideal educator is one who is patient, approachable, understanding, fair, and honest. I believe in the golden rule of “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you” (Matthew 7:12, New Living Translation). I feel this should extend to the way I treat my students. I would want to be treated like a professional and an adult, so I will treat my students as such. I expect honesty and I will return it. I do not believe in “sugar coating” mistakes made by students. I will be honest with the severity of the error, but will be diligent to avoid making the student feel belittled by my discussion.
An educator must also be patient with students. A task that may take me a few minutes could take them ten or more. I have learned that it is best to sit back and let the student struggle a little so that they may feel a greater sense of accomplishment when they complete the task. It is all too easy to do the task for them but this is not the way they will learn. I personally believe a hands on approach to learning is better for most people. This approach takes patience from an educator and a wiliness to sit on ones hands.
My natural nature is that I am laid back and approachable. I feel that this is a good disposition for a nurse educator to have. I vividly remember the anxiety and stress I felt as a nursing student. My laid back personality as being an asset to assisting students in feeling less stressful and anxious. I have also found that, just like the population in general, some students do not like my laid back nature. This revelation has caused me to do some modification to my teaching approach.
An educator needs to be as passionate about their teaching as the students are about learning. I have worked with several nursing students who were in their final semester. I was their preceptor and the personal joy I received from precepting them helped to push me towards my decision to become an educator. I love to watch a student perform a nursing task for the first time. Seeing the student transition from being scared and unsure of the task, to completing the task, an feeling accomplished and elated, it is one that personally brings me great joy.
A nurse educator is a mentor and role model for nursing students. They are often the first nurse that many students have experienced for any length of time. It is the obligation of the educator to put forth a strong positive image of nursing for the students to model. The educator has a great responsibility to the nursing profession. When they pass a student they are saying that this student is ready to be a nurse and the educator needs to feel that every student reflects on them.
My ideal educator is one who is patient, approachable, understanding, fair, and honest. I believe in the golden rule of “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you” (Matthew 7:12, New Living Translation). I feel this should extend to the way I treat my students. I would want to be treated like a professional and an adult, so I will treat my students as such. I expect honesty and I will return it. I do not believe in “sugar coating” mistakes made by students. I will be honest with the severity of the error, but will be diligent to avoid making the student feel belittled by my discussion.
An educator must also be patient with students. A task that may take me a few minutes could take them ten or more. I have learned that it is best to sit back and let the student struggle a little so that they may feel a greater sense of accomplishment when they complete the task. It is all too easy to do the task for them but this is not the way they will learn. I personally believe a hands on approach to learning is better for most people. This approach takes patience from an educator and a wiliness to sit on ones hands.
My natural nature is that I am laid back and approachable. I feel that this is a good disposition for a nurse educator to have. I vividly remember the anxiety and stress I felt as a nursing student. My laid back personality as being an asset to assisting students in feeling less stressful and anxious. I have also found that, just like the population in general, some students do not like my laid back nature. This revelation has caused me to do some modification to my teaching approach.
An educator needs to be as passionate about their teaching as the students are about learning. I have worked with several nursing students who were in their final semester. I was their preceptor and the personal joy I received from precepting them helped to push me towards my decision to become an educator. I love to watch a student perform a nursing task for the first time. Seeing the student transition from being scared and unsure of the task, to completing the task, an feeling accomplished and elated, it is one that personally brings me great joy.
A nurse educator is a mentor and role model for nursing students. They are often the first nurse that many students have experienced for any length of time. It is the obligation of the educator to put forth a strong positive image of nursing for the students to model. The educator has a great responsibility to the nursing profession. When they pass a student they are saying that this student is ready to be a nurse and the educator needs to feel that every student reflects on them.