Fast Facts for the Clinical Nursing Instructor

Eden Zabat Kan, PhD, RN, is Assistant Professor, Nursing Department, Health Sciences Division, The College of Southern Maryland, where she is responsible for didactic and clinical instruction for first semester students. Dr. Kan received her bachelor's degree in nursing from the Penn State University at State College, PA., her master’s degree in nursing education from Villanova University, Villanova, PA, and her doctorate in nursing science from Widener University, Chester, PA. Susan Stabler-Haas, PMHCNS-BC, RN is a clinical nursing instructor at Villanova University, PA. She has over 30 years of classroom and clinical teaching experience in the areas of medical-surgical, critical care, geriatric, and psychiatric nursing. Her instruction is influenced by her prior roles as staff nurse, rehab nurse, and critical care nurse manager in five Philadelphia area hospitals. Professor Stabler-Haas has earned a psychiatric clinical nurse specialist designation from the University of Pennsylvania. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist, a trained Mindfulness-Based Meditation teacher, and author of Fast Facts for the Student Nurse.

Contents


Preface


Acknowledgments


Introduction


Part I APPRECIATING YOUR NEW IDENTITY: FROM CAREGIVER TO EDUCATOR


1. Developing a New Identity as a Clinical Nursing Instructor


2. Understand the Rules: What Every Nursing Instructor Needs to Know About the Nursing Program’s Policies


3. Your New World: Clinical Sites, Clinical Specialties, Clinical Students


Part II YOUR SUCCESS DEPENDS ON YOU: PREPARING FOR YOUR CLINICAL TEACHING ASSIGNMENT


4. You Are a Guest, So Act Like One


5. Organize the Semester—Have a Plan


6. Confidentiality and Patient Privacy


Part III GETTING TO KNOW YOUR NURSING STUDENTS: WHO ARE THE BEST AND WHO ARE THE REST?


7. The High Fliers: How to Screen for Higher Achieving Students


8. The Not-So-High Fliers: How to Screen for Potential “Problem Students”


Part IV THE PERFORMANCE APPRAISALS: CLINICAL EVALUATIONS


9. The Clinical Evaluation Triad


10. The Dos and Don’ts of Student Documentation


11. Early Warning System


12. Graded Clinical Versus Pass/Fail Evaluations


Part V MANAGING THE CLINICAL DAY


13. Preconferences


14. Postconferences


15. Unplanned Events and Absences


16. Alternative Assignments


17. Unsafe Practice


Part VI SATISFACTION IN THE ROLE


18. What Your Students Will Expect of You


19. Take Time for Self-Care


Part VII OF GROWING IMPORTANCE


20. Letters of Reference


21. Role of Simulation


Appendices


A. An Example of Guidelines for Clinical Orientation Day


B. Clinical Journal: NSL/NSG 423


C. 4 C Clinical Assignment Sheet


D. Student Report Sheet


E. One-Minute Breathing Space


F. Sample Letters of Reference


Bibliography


Index