A nurse educator must actively pursue the most relevant and cutting-edge medical practices and curriculum content to ensure students are prepared to excel in a clinical setting. This level of astute awareness is best obtained through professional organizations, associations and on-going professional development by the nurse educator. Students must see the nurse educator model the importance of life-long learning through class discussions, field experiences, media clips and exposure to the latest medical technology.
The effectiveness of a nurse educator is not solely based on the academic credentials of the nurse educator. Effectiveness is based on the nurse educator's ability to convey the objectives and medical concepts in a manner that the student can comprehend and apply the information gained. Therefore the nurse educator must take great effort in promoting critical thinking skills such as problem solving, inquiry and higher-order thinking skills. Nurse educators teach through different methodologies such as case studies, simulation, role playing and concept mapping to ensure students adequately learn the material.
The nurse educator serves as a facilitator, leader, consultant and a mentor. The different roles require the nurse educator to go beyond one that disseminates information. Instead, the nurse educator takes on the role of showing concern not only about academic progress but the total well-being of the student. This includes providing encouragement during times of crisis, demanding excellence and modeling the level of professionalism desired for the nursing students.