Philosophy of Nursing Education
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Learning is the main purpose of education, which has been defined as being
trained by formal instruction and supervised practices. Every student has
the right to search for a general understanding of values and reality. This
search will definitely include formal education, as well as informal
education encountered daily. It is the task of the educator to increase the
knowledge and understanding in the classroom.
The concept of learning should be focused around four main areas:
independent thinking, group interaction, leading students to reach correct
conclusions and stressing the use of learned ideas in new situations.
Independent thought is vital in order for each student to reach his full
potential. Sharing one’s ideas and working as a member of a team are
essential to social and mental development. Educators should lead their
students in the direction it takes for the student to find the correct
answers without providing the answers themselves. Lastly, stressing use of
these new ideas and processes is essential for the student. Transference of
this information is what determines if learning has occurred.
Educators act as guides, leading the student in the direction he should go
to find answers and to solve his own problems. Educators can do this by
providing students with needed information. While students must ultimately
take responsibility for their own learning, an educator can often inspire
their desire to learn. Educators should set specific long-term and
short-term goals for their students. Students should feel comfortable asking
an educator for input when deciding what courses will best help them reach
their personal goals.
A nursing educator intertwines both roles of nurse and educator into one
new and exciting role. The nursing educator has the unique ability to share
a lifelong process with the student that is both independent and
self-initiated. When the student takes responsibility for his learning, he
will begin to see a connection between taking that responsibility and the
learning that occurs best when he is actively involved in the pursuit of his
goals. Teaching is a privileged position that demands humility as well as
respect. It is vital that nursing educators recognize the power in their
roles. Not only are they preparing tomorrow’s nurses; they are also
preparing individuals to be self-initiated, independent and self-assured.
My personal philosophy of nursing education includes many aspects of both
the educator and the nurse. Learning transpires during every experience we
have. The key is being receptive to the learning process that is taking
place. As a nursing educator, I must be receptive to my students’ needs
and attentive to their goals while providing them with their basic human
rights of respect and dignity. In the process, I will be gaining knowledge
from those very students as I respond to their desires of increased
knowledge and understanding in my classroom. An added benefit is that this
gained knowledge will assist me with my continued personal growth plan as a
nursing educator by enabling me to try new ideas and strategies.
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