Good news: four new faculty are hired! Now what??

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This presentation will focus on issues related to the current critical shortage of nurse faculty in associate degree nursing education. Specifically, this presentation takes into consideration the issue that as nurses, often prepared as nurse practitioners, become integrated into new teaching opportunities, they often experience transition issues and do not have a clear concept of the work of the nurse educator.

In fall 2003 and 2004 four new full-time master's prepared nurses joined the faculty at a large urban community college. Two new hires were recent graduates of a nurse practitioner program with no teaching experience. The other two faculty members had taught for years in diploma programs. The needs of each faculty member were varied and mentoring and coaching took on wide-ranging meanings for each new faculty member. This presentation will focus on strategies used to facilitate the transition of these new faculty members into an established faculty group. Strategies included weekly coaching regarding evaluation methods, suggestions for creative approaches to instructional techniques, and opportunities for weekly dialogue about student advisement and development.

As the shortage of nurse educators continues, it challenges faculty to seek creative ways of recruiting and mentoring. The concept of “grow your own” faculty will be explored and discussed. This concept helps nurses to explore the educator role and begin to appreciate it as an advanced practice option.