Clients can tell if you truly care. Enthusiasm, among other things, is what fuels innovation in nursing education (Schell, 2006). When you care deeply about the success of your learners it motivates you to do your best to meet their needs. Energy and a love for the subject matter, as well as teaching, is part of being a successful teacher (Rossetti & Fox, 2009). Promoting this enthusiasm among learners by encouraging interest and enjoyment in the topic is a strategy for encouraging them to apply it in their practice (Shwu-Run Liou, Ching-Yu Cheng, Hsiu-Min Tsai, & Chia-Hao Chang, 2013).
A student asked me this term why I have such a good work ethic. I think it is because I genuinely care about my students. In addition, you can probably see it in how I talk that I absolutely love the classes that I am teaching this term. Research and teaching are two parts of my career that I am most passionate about. Here is the danger: passion in teaching can be all-consuming, but it must not prohibit critical thinking (Skidmore, 2018). That is a completely different tip, but remember that critical reflection is always important.
My mother always told me that if I chose a career that I enjoyed that it would not feel like work. She was right. I enjoy teaching so much that it does not feel like work. There are some aspects that do feel like work, but when I am in the classroom with students I am genuinely having fun. This love for my job means that I do not resent the extra work that goes into doing my best in my teaching.
Sometimes it can be hard to be motivated to complete a task or teach a subject because it is not something that you deeply care about (and maybe life is happening too). Because enthusiasm is an important part of engaging learners, I recommend trying to think about what you do make yourself care about the topic. Designing a learning experience for students that is founded in adult learning theory can help them develop an enthusiasm for the topic (McMillan et al., 2007). Likewise, reminding yourself why the topic is important, connecting it to your experience, and using a problem-solving approach can help you muster up some excitement for the topic as well.
For example, when you have been assigned a topic to present on it might not be something that you deeply care about. Each of the topics being presented in the teaching and learning class impacts client care and your success on the NCLEX. Reminding yourself why the topic may help you (and your class) may help you care about it. Here are some other presentation strategies for delivering an effective presentation that might help it look like you care.
Have a happy Tuesday,
Laura
References
McMillan, D. E., Bell, S., Benson, E. E., Mandzuk, L. L., Matias, D. M., McIvor, M. J., … Wilkins, K. L. (2007). From anxiety to enthusiasm: Facilitating graduate nursing students’ knowledge development in science and theory. Journal of Nursing Education; Thorofare, 46(2), 88–91.
Rossetti, J., & Fox, P. G. (2009). Factors Related to Successful Teaching by Outstanding Professors: An Interpretive Study. Journal of Nursing Education; Thorofare, 48(1), 11–16.
Schell, K. A. (2006). A Delphi study of innovative teaching in baccalaureate nursing education. Journal of Nursing Education; Thorofare, 45(11), 439–448.
Shwu-Run Liou, Ching-Yu Cheng, Hsiu-Min Tsai, & Chia-Hao Chang. (2013). Innovative strategies for teaching nursing research in Taiwan. Nursing Research, 62(5), 335–343. https://doi.org/10.1097/NNR.0b013e31829fd827
Skidmore, J. (2018). My lack of passion in teaching. Retrieved November 12, 2019, from James m skidmore website: https://www.jamesmskidmore.com/skidwriting/2018/10/1/my-lack-of-passion-in-teaching
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