Teachers at all levels and in all environments depend on their ability to communicate in order to succeed in the classroom. This is particularly true in nursing, which relies on effective communication for the optimal delivery of patient care.
Research in recent years has shown that there are many different communication styles. Therefore, educators must be able to engage a variety of personalities and skills to connect with all their students.
The Importance of Communication
Great communication skills are needed within nurse education because educators cannot inspire, teach and mentor the next generation of nurses without them — for many reasons.
Nurse educators know how to effectively communicate with their fellow nurses, students, patients, and other individuals within the healthcare world. They aspire to mentor and guide future nurses into the new age of nursing through their ability to connect with their students.
While this applies to all areas of healthcare, it is especially crucial in emergency scenarios. If misinterpretation or confusion overwhelm the scheduled nursing staff, it can cost the life of a patient.
Nurse educators have the duty to prepare fellow nurses for the rigors of the workforce. This relies solely on communicating with students and staff in the best ways — from the classroom to the hospital and everywhere in between.
Skills Required of Nurse Educators
Some of the top skills required of nurse educators include abilities in:
- Active listening
- Verbal communication
- Nonverbal communication
- Good classroom management
- Cultural awareness
- Compassion
- Respect
- Personal connections
With all these skills combined, students can feel valued within the classroom. Nurse educators who possess these skills also prevent students from feeling discouraged if they do not understand concepts as quickly as expected.
Nurse educators need to speak clearly and truthfully when communicating with students. Additionally, they also need to take the time to listen to the concerns of their students and respectfully talk to them. Respect is integral to being an effective nurse educator because it creates a healthy environment for students to learn and comprehend often-complex information.
A strong communication foundation also allows students to practice what they are learning in the classroom and eventually utilize these techniques within a hospital, clinic, or other type of healthcare environments. If the nurse educator prepares the student well and shows them respect at all times, the student will, in turn, show compassion and respect to the patients they serve. As a result, they will go into their profession with the right attitude and will be more likely to entrust their care to those nurses.
Enhance Your Communication Skills With an MSN Degree
Improving your communication skills as a nurse is just one aspect of furthering your career in nurse education. Another is to earn your Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. Those who enroll in the MSN Nurse Educator online program at Worcester State University will create a strong foundation for becoming the nursing leader, educator and mentor they aspire to be.
Graduates from this program will be instilled with the cornerstones of good teaching and the willingness to be successful nursing educators. Those who earn their degree will be able to apply for national certifications, including the Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) Examination by the National League for Nursing and the Certified Academic Clinical Nurse Educator CNEcl Examination by the National League for Nursing. This ensures you serve in your desired profession as a leader and a role model for the generation of nurses to follow.
Each future nurse educator will obtain the knowledge required to not only become a better communicator but also become a better nurse. For example, in the Professional Role Development course, students in the program will learn about the philosophy of nursing and nurse education — so they can, in turn, provide future students with a comprehensive background in the profession. In the Nursing Leadership & Administration course as part of Worcester State University’s program, graduates will understand how to strategize and integrate concepts in order to transform healthcare organizations.
In as few as 18 months, graduates will be prepared with advanced clinical knowledge and proven instructional techniques that empower you to guide nurses and elevate their patient care outcomes.
Learn more about Worcester State University’s online MSN – Nurse Educator program.
