Instructions: Overview of Nursing Education: History of Nursing Education in the United States Curriculum Development and Approval Processes in Changing Educational Environments Respond to the Discussion Board questions with a substantive answer using a minimum of two references for each Board posting beyond your text book. In addition, respond to at least two fellow students’ postings for each discussion forum. Each Discussion Board assignment is worth a total of 10% (i.e. eight points for your response and two points for your response to another student’s posting) towards the final grade. Please post your answers to the discussion questions halfway through the discussion time so that your fellow students will have time to respond with thoughtful answers. Be sure to refer to the Discussion Board Rubric for grading posted in course documents. Following this rubric will ensure a good grade. Late submissions of answers and responses will not be accepted and will result in
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Discussion #4
Whether it is important for nurse educators in the practice setting and nursing schools to have graduate degrees?
Nursing as a profession is very demanding but attracts individuals pursuing a profession in a discipline with solid growth. The demand that comes with being a nurse compels some nurses to specialize in nursing education. Nurse educators working in practice and classroom setting are required to prepare the next generation of nurses to meet a rapidly evolving healthcare sector’s demands. For instance, nurse educators should prepare nurses to meet the distinct patients’ needs, advance science that enhances health professionals’ capacity to deliver quality and safe patient care, and assume leadership roles in the healthcare sector (National Academy of Sciences, 2011).
Additionally, nurse educators are expected to modify nursing education to enhance graduate nurses’ competence in working effectively and collaborating with other healthcare workers in a healthcare system that is evolving and complex. Additionally, nurse educators should enhance the smooth transition of entry-level nurses into the nursing profession. Also, graduate programs are necessary for advanced practice registered nurses to assume various roles in long-term care, acute care, primary care, and specialty practices. Therefore, nursing educators in the practice setting and the schools of nursing should have graduate degrees.
Why Nursing Educators need to have Graduate Degrees
Graduate prepared nurses provide patients with an advanced level of care, teach in classroom settings and online, engage in research, lead healthcare systems, influence public policy, apply the evidence-based practice, and partner with corporations to transform the healthcare sector. Graduate nurses fill emerging roles in various practice areas like genomics/genetics, geriatrics, systems improvement, forensics, informatics, administration, public health, and pediatrics (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, n.d). Therefore, a graduate degree is necessary for nurse educators to drive changes in rapidly transforming healthcare. For instance, an aging population and an increasingly diverse patient population require nurse educators to adequately prepare graduate nurses to serve in specialty roles and primary care and work independently (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, n.d). In this context, a graduate degree prepares nurse educators to assume advanced roles in teaching, direct patient care, informatics, and research.
Nurse with graduate degree integrates their desire for teaching and clinical expertise to enhance patient’s experience. Nurse Educators are required to prepare new nurses and advance practicing clinicians’ development. Therefore, they must have excellent communication skills, a comprehensive clinical background, and be culturally competent. Additionally, they need to be flexible to modify their teaching strategies and curriculum to reflect changes in the profession and industry (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, n.d). Therefore, nurse educators with a graduate degree can transform the healthcare sector and nursing education by presenting at nursing conferences, engage in research, participate in community service, influence public policy, and work as consultants to healthcare institutions and education. Additionally, nurse educators with a graduate degree can work as practice setting instructors, faculty in nursing programs and associate degree, staff development officers, and clinical preceptors.
Whether It Makes a Difference If the Advanced Degree Is In Nursing or a Related Discipline to Become a Nurse Educator
Before becoming a nurse educator, one must have a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. The NCLEX-RN (National Council Licensure Examination) must be done after one earns a BSN degree. The passing of the NCLEX-RN exam qualifies individuals for licensure as RN (Registered Nurse). After all these qualifications, an RN should obtain an advanced degree to qualify as a nurse educator (Registered Nurse.org, n.d). An advanced degree assumes various forms, including a Doctor of Nursing Philosophy (Ph.D.), Master&rsquo