It’s a revolution! The way we access entertainment is changing radically. Once, the likes of EastEnders was cutting edge with astronomical viewing figures; now we see the rise of Game of Thrones and Netflix. We have audience/actor interaction, we have on-the-move viewing, we have fan zones.
What has that got do with the serious business of educating our future nurses? Surely that should be about imparting information so that care can be delivered safely. Well yes, except care is not “delivered” any more (with the exception of a small proportion of all the care processes that occur). Care is largely about involving and empowering patients and families; it’s about shared decision-making and supporting self-care. This is partly driven by the need to democratise and personalise care, but also by the shifting nature of health and disease. The modern nurse needs to be able to deliver safe, technical, procedural care, but also to work within complex multi-disciplinary teams and networks and to support patients with complex conditions and lives. In addition, the evidence behind that care is progressing on a daily basis. So the modern nurse needs to continuously work with information from a wide range people and sources. Teaching nurses how to sit in lecture theatres will not meet these learning needs.
In addition, nursing students are frequently returners to education, have family responsibilities, have to work to pay the bills and have to work around placements.
Supporting nursing students to develop the skills they will need to work within communities of learning and to be independent learners is a way forward. Having that anchoring point of face-to-face teaching is valued by students and teachers alike, but providing a blended learning approach which gradually shifts them towards independent learning, developing their skills and confidence, could help to prepare them for career-long learning. This approach may help them to cope with the multiple demands on their time and focus, but would have to be person responsive and engaging.
What a great post! It really illustrates the changing world that we live in now and how the needs of our students and professionals are changing. I, personally, have 3 friends who have trained as nurses since having children, and I know the pressure of the courses can be really intense, but also that need to be in touch whilst out on placement. Not to mention the need for ongoing professional development because of changes. There is so much here that needs the approach of online and distance learning. I hope you have found something useful on the course.