Nursing education reform

Nursing students are returning to learning, but not necessarily to high school in a standard brick and mortar constructing. In a career like nursing, where a lot of our learning is predicated on hands-on experiences, how does nursing education change in the present climate of physical distancing on account of Covid-19? How are institutions and educators adapting to maximise student success?

Virtual learning

Virtual learning shouldn’t be recent to nursing. This Wolters Kluwer Study 2018 found that 65% of nursing education schemes use virtual education technologies.

Simulation

Simulation has also been utilized in nursing education for years, but this has definitely modified over time. Changes in technology are enabling incredible advances in simulating real-life scenarios and teaching using electronic health records (EHRs). According to Dr. Desiree Hensel, dean of Curry College, on this video titled By integrating clinical assessment skills into the nursing curriculum and improving entry-level nursing practices, students can learn from their mistakes through simulation; in real situations, instructors step in to make sure patient safety, but in a simulated experience, students could make these mistakes and learn from them.

Plus, in accordance with Hensel, this in turn is beneficial for testing and opens up conversations that help with learning.

In 2014, a publication by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing was published NCSBN National Simulation Study: A Longitudinal Randomized Controlled Study Replacing Clinical Hours with Simulation in Prelicensure Nursing Education. The results of this study provided “substantial evidence that replacing high-fidelity simulation for up to half of traditional clinical hours produces comparable educational outcomes at the end of the program and new graduates who are ready for clinical practice.”

Academic/practice partnerships

Academic/practice partnerships have gotten more common as a mechanism for implementing the recommendations of the Institute of Medicine report (2010), . These partnerships create systems that enable nurses to advance educationally and professionally, prepare the nurses of the longer term to practice and lead, provide mechanisms for lifelong learning, and supply structure for nurse residency programs (AACN, 2012).

Key principles guiding relationships between academic institutions in care settings (AACN, 2012) include:

1. Collaborative relationships through formal relationships, shared vision and expectations, and shared goals
2. Mutual respect and trust
3. Sharing knowledge
4. A shared commitment to maximizing each registered nurse’s potential to attain the best level inside their individual scope of practice
5. Collaborate to determine an evidence-based transition program for college kids and recent graduates that’s each sustainable and cost-effective
6. Developing, implementing and evaluating organizational processes and structures that support and recognize academic or educational achievement
7. Supporting nurses’ opportunities to guide and develop collaborative models that redesign practice environments to enhance health outcomes
8. Establish an infrastructure to gather and analyze data on current and future RN workforce needs

In addition, the National Council for State Boards of Nursing has developed a model regarding Practice-academic partnership through the Covid-19 crisis benefiting each students and hospitals during this time.

How else can we support students during this time?

Recent tweet biology professor @FiRawle reminds us that students have more on their shoulders now than ever before. Dr. Rawle asked students: Responses included concerns about parents who’re essential employees, uncertainty about life, and never with the ability to pay rent for each of them. I encourage you to read this thread maintain perspective and seek progressive solutions to interact and educate in these difficult times.

Wolters Kluwer (2018, November 28). 65% of nursing education schemes use virtual simulation. https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/expert-insights/65-percent-nursing-education-programs-adopting-virtual-simulation

American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2012). Guiding principles for partnerships for learning and practice. https://www.aacnnursing.org/Academic-Practice-Partnerships/The-Guiding-Principles

Hayden, J. K., Smiley, R. A., Alexander, M., Kardong-Edgren, S. K., Jeffries, P. R. (2014). NCSBN National Simulation Study: A Longitudinal, Randomized, Controlled Study of Replacing Clinical Hours with Simulation in Prelicensure Nursing Education(2), S4-S41. https://www.ncsbn.org/JNR_Simulation_Supplement.pdf