Nurses as Teachers - a Magnet force

Well almost everyday I work, I have a student assigned to my patients. Sometimes I enjoy the students and sometimes I just wish they would go away! This past week I went 2 for 3. So I have decided to take a new approach with them. First thing in the morning I ask them what they would like to get out of the day, and what they expect from me. Essentially asking them their personal objectives for their clinical experience. Working in mother/baby, often the students have no interest in that department. So given they don't really want to learn about the nursing process related to that patient population, what else can I teach them?

So yesterday I had a fun loving, outgoing male 26 year old, working on his second degree. He doesn't intend to work mother baby so I taught him time management and critical thinking. I made him think through things: Me: "Can you get the patient some jello" Student: "Sure, where is it?" Me: "In the pantry behind the desk" Student:"There wasn't any in there" Me"Where did you look?" Student:"In the fridge" Me:"Try looking in the door of the fridge" Student: "Oh, OK"
He returns victoriously with the jello in hand. Me:"What is she going to do with that jello" Student: "eat it????" Me: "Is she going to do some Jello shots?" Student:"Ohhh, a spoooon!"

Eventually the patient got the jello and a spoon! Actually the critical thinking came with the diabetic patient who prior to pregnancy had been on oral meds with insulin therapy started during pregnancy. She was post op 12 hours on clear liquids 1800 ADA which was presented on a tray as non-diabetic juice, jello & popsicles....Me: "What do you think about this tray?"

So going the extra mile to teach while providing patient care and learning an ever evolving process related to the EHR, is exhausting! But very rewarding...and at the end of the day my student said "I really learned a lot today. Thank you" He was surprised and grateful and I realized I like teaching! Oh oh...double masters??? FNP and Education?

Crunch Time

Well at this point in the semester it begins to feel like you are home free. This feeling is deceptive. It is actually the busiest time of the semester. All papers start coming due, while the weekly work stays on pace. Meanwhile I am feeling more ahead than before, wrong! I am feeling the presence of these five classes waiting anxiously to register for the final 2 this summer. Mentally there is something to registering for the final step! Of course for me that the end of the beginning and in the fall the Masters program. I have applied and await notice of acceptance.