Question

Do you think the role of the nurse in education has changed? What influences have affected nurses as educators for patients and other nurses? Do you feel your role in educating others has changed at all? Why or why not?

Answer 1

Nurse educators are qualified health professionals actively in educating practicing nurses and the patients. They act as a bridge and helps to fill the gaps in theory and practice. Role of nurse educators has met with tremendous changes in recent era.

The first line of change is Evidence based practice , utilization of research studies and incorporating into patient care. Nurse educators took responsibilities in encouraging practicing nurses to adhere to policies and procedures of the hospital. As all health care organizations are accredited with accreditation agencies in order to raise the standards in patient care. This place nurses in undue stress to meet quality standards. Nurse educators establishes continuing nursing education programs in order to enhance practice nurses compliance towards strict protocols. Nursing informatics is a combination of computer science, information science and nursing science designed to helps nurses in management and processing of nursing data and knowledge. It helps nurses to utilize the data stored to use in nursing education, research and administration. Before initiating projects on nursing informatics it's mandatory for all nurses to possess technical competencies on computers, understanding the process of using computers and other digitalized equipments in daily practice.

Nurse educators helps patient in means of decision making. Law of attorney helps patient to understand their rights on health care delicery, nurses must help patients to take correct decision on their treatment without neglecting likes and wishes of the patient. Health teaching based not the individual diseases condition can be done by practice nurses under the guidance of nurse educators.