Where would we be without education? It is a core tenet of preparing professionals in every industry, including healthcare, law and education.
According to American Nurse Journal, “Nurse educators have a responsibility to develop students’ professional values and informed perspectives on nursing and healthcare policy, support evidence and ethics in practice and foster students’ commitment to practice to the full scope of the nursing profession.”
Nurse educators inspire students and help them grow as healthcare professionals. They work with students to reach their nursing career goals and provide them with a close mentor relationship. Ultimately, education helps nurses become influential within the healthcare sphere via the knowledge and skills they possess.
One essential aspect of today’s nursing education and patient care environments is technology. Nurse educators can use technological resources to enhance learning and prepare nurses to apply technology like nursing informatics in their own work. Aspiring educators can learn more about these concepts and practices in Millersville University’s online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) – Nursing Education program.
Technology in Healthcare: A Significant Contribution to Patient and Provider Success
Technology has become integral to healthcare. Patients can communicate with healthcare providers more easily and regularly through various tech-supported applications.
Nurses and doctors can now answer common questions patients ask through online systems. Technology has allowed certain patients to receive the necessary care without stepping foot in a healthcare facility. Additionally, healthcare professionals communicate with each other, as well as leadership, to discuss updates or changes in their respective departments.
Technology will continue to advance the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare workers. Many of these advancements begin in the nursing education classroom.
Optimizing the Nursing Education Classroom
Technology has several uses in education, and nursing education especially benefits from technology tools and methods. For example, technology in the nursing education classroom can engage and motivate students, overcome barriers, make learning unique and help students develop preferred learning styles.
American Nurse Journal explains that educators can inspire students to pursue nursing by “utilizing simulation technology, adopting a student-centered classroom approach, developing stronger partnerships between academic and practice settings, and integrating computer-based technologies to create an interactive environment.”
Nursing educators must follow the Experiential Learning Model framework in their classrooms. According to American Nurse Journal, this model theorizes that “learning happens in all settings, each person’s experience is unique and individuals develop a preferred learning style.”
Technology in the classroom also helps foster a diverse environment for students to enjoy learning. Online tools allow students to create videos, posters, animations, avatars and trivia games related to the class topics. These tools spark students to engage in problem-solving and concept mapping.
The accessibility of these learning tools establishes an environment that encourages students to think critically. Combining scientific knowledge with creativity helps students retain information and notice connections between ideas.
Focus on the Power of Technology With a Master’s Degree
While technology has numerous benefits, nurse educators also require a greater expansion of their knowledge base. Those who enroll in the online MSN – Nursing Education program at Millersville University will utilize technology in the teaching-learning process to support the delivery of high-quality and safe patient care.
Graduates of Millersville’s program possess the knowledge to facilitate learning outcomes and improve nursing across diverse settings. The program also provides an environment for students to create learning experiences that support cognitive, psychomotor and affective development. For example, the Nursing Informatics and Healthcare Technology course covers the basics of information systems and technology in healthcare. The Effective Teaching: Theories and Methods in Nursing Education course explores different applications of technologies for educators, including future trends and the benefits and challenges of technology use.
Each future nurse educator will obtain the knowledge and skills to enter influential roles such as nursing professional development coordinator, clinical nurse educator, continuing education specialist and nursing faculty.
Learn more about Millersville University’s online MSN – Nursing Education program.
