The Importance of the Role of Nurse Educators

Introduction

Nurse practitioners play a vital role in the healthcare system as educators to their patients. They possess a wide range of knowledge and expertise, and they use their skills to teach and empower patients about their health, prevention of diseases, and improvement of their overall well-being. Nurse practitioners work in a variety of settings, such as hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes, and they provide direct patient care while also serving as educators to their patients.

Discussion

One must have at least a master’s degree in the field to become a nurse practitioner, with some of the most senior nursing roles requiring a doctoral degree. The focus of their education is not on diagnosis and treatment, but on the whole person, from the patient and their loved ones to the community at large. Nurse practitioners are in a prime position to shape their patients’ behavior, laying the groundwork for long-lasting relationships based on mutual trust and respect.

In their role as educators, nurse practitioners focus on providing information on healthy behaviors and lifestyles, such as educating clients about good eating habits, regular exercise, stress management skills, and how to avoid harmful behaviors such as smoking and excessive alcohol use. They also assess potential health hazards and instruct patients on how to avoid them. Nurse practitioners educate specific groups on how to avoid the typical health hazards that people face once they have identified those risks. For example, they may educate parents about the significance of immunization in warding off diseases that affect children and how to do so effectively (Page-Cutrara & Bradley, 2020). They also educate patients on how to take care of themselves when they have chronic diseases such as diabetes or hypertension, teaching them how to spot early symptoms of disease and how to take the proper steps to avoid more difficulties from occurring.

These days, education is included within the purview of a nurse’s profession in every state’s NPA. As a nurse, it is one’s duty to educate patients so that they may better take care of themselves and their families in times of health and sickness. Educator efficacy is often used as a criterion for advancement in the nursing profession (Rifas et al., 1994, as cited in Bastable, 2023). More recently, the concept of crucial pathways—also known as clinical pathways—has emerged, ushering in a fashionable, interdisciplinary method of outlining preset client outcomes against which patients’ adherence to route expectations may be gauged (Bastable, 2019). When it comes to developing new methods of providing care to patients, nurses are often in the forefront. To achieve the professional objectives of delivering cost-effective, safe, and high-quality treatment, education of both patients and their families and healthcare providers is essential.

Consumer education has become more important than ever before in today’s rapidly developing healthcare system due to the system’s emphasis on prevention, promotion, and independence in self-care activities. The sorts of clients met, the specific learning requirements of those clients, and the environments in which health education takes place have all become increasingly diverse in recent years (Bastable, 2019). Nurse educators need a solid understanding of the teaching-learning process so they can make the most of the many chances to educate consumers about health and wellness (Bastable, 2019). As time goes on, they should become better at comprehending what materials and approaches to education would best convey the desired health messages to students. In addition, nurses need to learn how to effectively use the Internet as a tool for client health education.

As such, nursing staff play a crucial role in the fight against and response to COVID-19. With over 20 million nurses globally and an estimated 3.8 million in the United States, nursing is by far the biggest healthcare profession in both countries (Choi et al., 2020). Hospitalized patients with severe instances of COVID-19 receive the highest level of care from nurses, who are the frontline caregivers in this setting. Nursing resources are essential for treating the group at the highest risk for COVID-19-related complications or fatality, which includes those with previous health vulnerabilities (Choi et al., 2020).

Nurses, being one of the most respected sectors of the healthcare industry, have a significant impact on the public’s understanding of disease prevention and the spread of disinformation during an epidemic. There has been a lot of disinformation floating around about how COVID-19 spreads, who is in danger, and where outbreaks are happening (Wen et al., 2020, as cited in Choi et al., 2020). Consequently, nurse educators are the most reliable source of information for general population during the pandemic and play essential role in the contingency of misinformation.

Conclusion

In conclusion, nurse practitioners play a critical role as educators in the healthcare industry. They use their extensive knowledge and expertise to teach and empower their patients about their health, prevention of diseases, and overall well-being. Their work is essential in building and strengthening patient personality, overcoming limitations in the nursing course, and ensuring the content remains relevant. The nursing profession highly values the contributions of nurse practitioners in providing holistic care to patients, families, and communities. As educators, nurse practitioners help to ensure that patients have the knowledge and skills they need to make informed decisions about their health, leading to better health outcomes and improved quality of life.

Reference

Al-Ghareeb, A., McKenna, L., & Cooper, S. (2019). The influence of anxiety on student nurse performance in a simulated clinical setting: A mixed methods design. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 98, 57–66. Web.

Bastable, S. B. (2023). Nurse as educator: Principles of teaching and learning for nursing practice. Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Choi, K. R., Skrine Jeffers, K., & Cynthia Logsdon, M. (2020). Nursing and the novel coronavirus: Risks and responsibilities in a global outbreak. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 76(7), 1486–1487. Web.

Page-Cutrara, K., & Bradley, P. A. (2020). The role of the nurse educator in Canada. Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing.