The RN to BSN program at Grand Canyon University is designed to meet the clinical competency requirements set forth by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). To achieve these competencies, the program incorporates nontraditional experiences for practicing nurses. These experiences involve direct and indirect care in which licensed nursing students actively learn within the context of their hospital organization, specific care discipline, and local communities.
This assignment requires a description of a teaching experience and a discussion of the observations made during the experience. The written portion should be between 1,500 and 2,000 words and follow the guidelines set by the American Psychological Association (APA) style guide.
To begin, it is important to understand the purpose of this teaching experience. The goal is to provide practicing nurses with opportunities to enhance their clinical knowledge and skills in a real-world setting. By engaging in direct and indirect care experiences, these nurses are able to apply their theoretical learning to practical situations. This not only reinforces their knowledge but also allows them to develop critical thinking skills and professionalism in their nursing practice.
During the teaching experience, the nurse educators play a crucial role in guiding the students. They provide the necessary support, guidance, and feedback to ensure that the students are meeting the clinical competencies. The educators also facilitate the integration of theoretical knowledge and practical skills by creating a structured learning environment.
The teaching experience provides a unique opportunity to observe the growth and development of the nursing students. Throughout the experience, it is important to observe how the students apply their knowledge and skills in different clinical settings. This includes their ability to assess and prioritize patient care needs, communicate effectively with patients and interdisciplinary teams, and implement evidence-based practices in their nursing interventions.
Furthermore, the teaching experience allows for the observation of the students’ critical thinking abilities. Nurses must be able to think critically in order to make sound clinical judgments and decisions. During the experience, it is important to assess the students’ ability to analyze and synthesize information, evaluate the appropriateness of interventions, and modify their plans of care as needed.
In addition to clinical skills and critical thinking, the teaching experience provides an opportunity to observe the students’ professionalism. Professionalism is a fundamental component of nursing practice, and it encompasses behaviors such as ethical practice, accountability, and effective communication. Throughout the experience, it is important to assess the students’ ability to demonstrate professionalism in their interactions with patients, families, colleagues, and other healthcare professionals.
The teaching experience also allows for observation of the students’ ability to collaborate and work effectively within interdisciplinary teams. In today’s healthcare environment, collaboration and teamwork are essential for providing safe and effective patient care. During the experience, it is important to observe how the students interact and collaborate with other healthcare professionals, such as physicians, pharmacists, and social workers.
Overall, the teaching experience provides a valuable opportunity to observe the growth and development of nursing students as they apply their theoretical knowledge to real-world clinical settings. By observing their clinical skills, critical thinking abilities, professionalism, and collaboration within interdisciplinary teams, educators can assess the students’ progress toward meeting the clinical competencies set forth by the CCNE and AACN. Additionally, the observations made during the experience can inform future teaching strategies and interventions to further enhance the students’ learning and professional development.
In conclusion, the RN to BSN program at Grand Canyon University incorporates nontraditional experiences to meet the clinical competency requirements for practicing nurses. These experiences involve direct and indirect care within the hospital organization, specific care discipline, and local communities. The teaching experience provides a unique opportunity to observe the growth and development of nursing students as they apply their theoretical knowledge to real-world clinical settings. By observing their clinical skills, critical thinking abilities, professionalism, and collaboration within interdisciplinary teams, educators can assess the students’ progress toward meeting the clinical competencies. The observations made during the experience are crucial in informing future teaching strategies and interventions to enhance the students’ learning and professional development.
