Looking beyond what nursing education offers can open doors

In a world where time efficiency is paramount, nurses often seek education opportunities solely of their area of ​​nursing specialization. After all, further knowledge in my field of specialization may have direct application at work, right? It could seem counterintuitive to search for learning opportunities outside of nursing, but the outcomes may surprise you.

I’m a doctoral student in nursing, and the doctoral program includes just one elective course under “independent study.” One likelihood for me to decide on my very own topic. Most students decide to read primary literature for his or her dissertation, but I selected . . . to audit the law course. My future research project involves children with special needs and I discovered a neighborhood special education law course. School education is amazingly essential for families with children with special needs, but parents and nurses have little understanding of education policies.

Since I do not have a law degree, I wasn’t sure how well I’d understand or apply the fabric covered in school, but auditing the category turned out to be the very best decision I could have made, with immediate advantages and opening doors for future opportunities.

Outside the academic comfort zone.

At first I felt excitement tinged with trepidation and shyness. To audit the course, I had to acquire permission from the lecturers and the university dean. I nervously explained my dissertation project on examining how parents reply to the challenges posed by children with emotional or behavioral disorders, together with my remark that oldsters and nurses often don’t understand the legal or child rights issues involved. I shouldn’t have frightened – the professor was intrigued and inquisitive about what insights and knowledge nurses could bring to the problem.

– We’re all students here.

On the primary day of classes, I got lost. Fortunately, a student on Zoom recognized me and asked, “Are you Michelle, the nurse taking our class?” She guided me safely through the maze of corridors. I even have 30 years of nursing experience; being a whole novice was unsettling. I used to be frightened that I’d look “stupid” because I did not have the required educational background for the course like the opposite students, but everyone greeted me warmly and warranted me that they were there because they didn’t know the fabric either. It was a breakthrough moment for me: we were all students here.

Then I relaxed and delved into the subject. The readings were difficult, but not inconceivable. I spotted that analyzing a legal case is like analyzing a nursing case study. “Who is this child?” “What’s going on at school?” “What did the parents ask for to solve the problem?” “What was the result?” Most importantly, “why was this the outcome?”, based on the wording of the law. The professor and students appreciated the nurse’s holistic perspective of concurrently considering the needs of the family, the kid and the college, versus the “parents’ side” or “school’s side” perspective of a lawyer. As a parent of a baby with special needs, I also presented a parent’s perspective on school processes.

Unexpected opportunities arise.

This experience helped me in ways I never anticipated. As I listened to other parents and teachers, I even have observed parents misjudge what the law covers or teachers misjudge which students are covered by the law. I even have seen schools, teachers, parents and nurses captivated with helping school children, despite the fact that they do not know what those in other roles are working on. Without understanding the fundamentals of how they work, it is simple to fall into an “us” and “them” mentality. My try to understand the legal perspective was appreciated, and the professor and students wanted to listen to about my personal experiences and thoughts.

Our exchanges improved other students’ understanding of parent-clients and deepened my awareness of the implications and nuances of particular words within the law. Plus, this experience opened up other avenues for exploration and connection. I even have met advocates for kids with special needs who at the moment are considering employing nurses of their clinics and programs.

My doctoral advisor, Dr. Patricia Blair, identified other possibilities. As a nurse practitioner herself in health law, she saw that this multidisciplinary education could enable me to influence the creation of college or legal policy or conduct further research and advocate for policy changes that might help more children than I could ever personally assist in my work as a nurse.

Consider exploring other areas of study.

TThe experience revealed unimaginable possibilities and revived my passion. Consider your individual area. Could a marketing class ultimately improve your public health outreach? Could an economics or business course deepen your financial knowledge so which you can effectively advocate on your needs in government?

Browse university course offers in your area. If an audit is feasible, it’s a cheap option with high potential profits. What opportunities are open to you?

Michelle Nighswander, MSN-Ed, RN, is a doctoral student in nursing on the University of Texas Medical School and an assistant professor at Texas State University at Round Rock.