Expert Clinician to Novice Nurse Educator: Learning from First-Hand Narratives

“This book provides insight and guidance for expert nurse clinicians transitioning to nurse educators, with an emphasis on teaching in a clinical setting. Concepts are illustrated with rich experiential narrations from nurse educators reflecting on their journeys as novice nurse educators of students and new graduate nurses… This is a valuable supplement to readily available books on curriculum, course development, and learning theory, providing insightful pearls of wisdom based on real-life experiences of nurse clinicians who have successfully transitioned to the role of nurse educator. Score: 97 – 5 Stars!”

–Susan G. Wiera, MSN, Michigan State University College of Nursing, Doody’s Reviews

Research shows that the sharing of personal, first-hand stories not only enhances learning and eases the transition to a new role, but also helps novice educators understand that their challenges are shared by others. With the goal of improving the experience of nurses transitioning from clinician to educator, in hospitals as well as schools of nursing, this unique book presents the stories of nurses who made this transition. It presents the findings of several qualitative studies addressing the question, “What is the lived experience of clinicians as they assume new roles as clinical nurse educators?” These narratives describe the challenges they faced and the transformations in each nurse’s identity and relationships during the transition process. The text includes recommendations from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching along with specific problem-solving strategies.

The narratives are from nurse clinicians, nurse educators, and students, who provide insights into such common dilemmas faced by novice educators as, “How do I keep a patient safe while allowing the student nurse to practice a skill for the first time?” “If a student is slow to catch on to a procedure, how long do I wait before they fail?” “How do I help provide a safe and effective learning environment for new graduate nurses?” The book includes stories of students who describe positive and negative experiences with clinical nurse educators. Stories address cultural diversity, bullying, and dilemmas related to critical and ethical thinking. Nurse educators themselves share insights into what they wish they had done differently to guide students and new graduate nurses in their learning. While these storytellers have diverse clinical and educational backgrounds, there are consistent similarities among the experiences they describe. One common thread is the need to embrace the role of a novice in order to succeed. The book serves as a valuable text for graduate students in nurse educator courses as well as students and nurses seeking support, insight, and inspiration in their transition to the clinical nurse educator role.

Key Features:

• Presents experiential narratives from nurses who made the transition from clinician to educator
• Describes important aspects of a nurse’s transition from the role of clinical expert to that of novice educator
• Includes research-based insights in a highly accessible style and format
• Integrates National League for Nursing Core Competencies into the text
• Provides inspiring, helpful, and comforting guidance for nurse clinicians feeling lost or confused in a new role