TEACHING ACTIVITIES OF THE NURSING PRACTITIONER

Abstract

Summary and Conclusions This study investigated the teaching activities of the nursing practitioner in order to clarify her teaching role, to examine the scope of her teaching and to identify the basic nursing preparation needed for this function. Basic to the study was the belief that improved performance of the teaching function will contribute directly to the improvement of nursing service by assisting the patient and his family to handle their health problems more effectively and by helping the nursing co-worker to give better nursing care. The limitations of space here prevent a detailed presentation of the rationale underlying the conclusions concerning the teaching function of the professional nursing practitioner. The conclusions may be summarized as follows: The teaching reported in this study may be classified as simple communication, and structured teaching. The structured teaching can be shown to be a function; this function can best be performed by the nursing practitioner. The teaching function of the nursing practitioner may be defined as follows: This teaching function can be shown to can-form to McManus' description of a professional function of nursing which should be performed by nurses who have had a professional type of education (7). It is recommended that all basic nursing programs provide for the developing and improving of the ability of the nursing practitioner to communicate effectively. It is recommended that preparation for the professional function of structured teaching be provided in baccalaureate nursing programs.