Part B: Evolving Roles Nurse Educators Diverse Environments

 

Renee Shalvoy is a Master’s of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree holder who works as a nurse educator at the Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. According to Hunt (2017), a nurse educator must hold a master’s or doctorate to teach at the university level, and Renee fulfills this requirement. Her job involves teaching courses in the RN to BSN program, which comprises multi-cultural professional adult learners in their mid-20s.

Renee’s work environment is exciting and motivating, and she takes her students through various courses such as Nursing Fundamentals, Evidence-Based Practice and Research, and Oncology Nursing Certification in collaboration with The James Cancer Hospital. She teaches both online and live classes, and her teaching has produced many reputable employees within various hospitals in the nation.

In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Renee works as a nurse educator in collaboration with The James Cancer Hospital outpatient clinic settings, where she onboards new nurses to the organization. She is responsible for creating a two-month orientation calendar specific to the needs of each new employee. Renee’s role is unique in that she is a 50/50 salary employee, half paid from the academic college and half from The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

As an academic nurse educator, Renee’s core responsibilities include designing, updating, evaluating, and implementing nursing education programs in collaboration with the faculty group. She acts as a mentor and advisor to students and conducts numerous assessments to ensure they meet the course objectives. Renee also transfers her skills, experience, and knowledge to her students to prepare them for their future roles in nursing.

From the interview, it is clear that nurse educators have numerous responsibilities, including being leaders, educational advocates, engaging in professional development activities, learning facilitators, and high skilled collaborators and communicators. These responsibilities help to establish a conducive environment for both the learners and other educators, which contributes to the attainment of set objectives.

The role of nurse educators is critical in ensuring that nursing students receive well-packaged information and resources to deliver quality healthcare to patients. Renee’s dual role as an educator in the academic and hospital setting emphasizes the importance of the holistic development of nursing students. Through Renee’s work and experience, it is evident that nurse educators play a vital role in shaping the nursing profession’s future.