Preparing Nursing Students to be Health Educators: Personal Knowing Through Performance and Feedback Workshops

Abstract

<H4>ABSTRACT</H4> <P>Newly graduated RNs are expected to be competent health educators for individuals, groups, and communities. To prepare for this complex role, nursing students need time to focus on developing basic teaching skills and self-confidence in a non-threatening learning environment. Of primary importance to novice teachers’ development is taking the time to identify and appreciate the personal dimensions that are an integral part of the health educator role. Carper identified personal knowing as one of the four ways of knowing in nursing. This article describes an innovative praxis strategy that used videotaped performances, learner feedback, and self-reflection to encourage personal knowing in relation to the experience of nursing students learning to teach groups of clients. </P> <H4>AUTHOR</H4> <P>Received: May 14, 2004 </P> <P>Accepted: September 10, 2004 </P> <P>Ms. Little is an Instructor in the Collaboration for Academic Education in Nursing Program, Selkirk College, School of Health and Human Services, Castlegar, British Columbia, Canada. </P> <P>Address correspondence to Maureen Little, MScN, RN, Instructor, Collaboration for Academic Education in Nursing Program, Selkirk College, PO Box 1200, Castlegar, British Columbia, Canada V1N 3J1; e-mail: <A HREF="mailto:mlittle@selkirk.ca">mlittle@selkirk.ca</A>.</P>