Work Role Perspectives of Clinical Instructors From Three Countries. Issue 5 (September 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zlotnick, Cheryl; Jones, Sharon M.; Koren, Ainat; Peters, Anya; Saffer, Cheryl; Torsvik, Malvin; Wilhelm, Dalit
• Is Part Of: Nursing education perspectives. Volume 37:Issue 5(2016)
• Publication Date: 2016-09
• Subjects: Baccalaureate Nursing Education -- Clinical Instructor Roles -- Partnership Models; Nursing -- United States -- Periodicals; Nursing -- Periodicals; Nursing -- Study and teaching -- United States -- Periodicals; Education, Nursing; Nursing; Nursing; United States; Periodicals; Periodicals; 610.73071073
• DOI: 10.1097/01.NEP.0000000000000061
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1536-5026

Abstract

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Educational institutions partner with health facilities to provide clinical education, but the impact of these partnerships on clinical instructors is rarely examined. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was used to obtain surveys from a convenience sample of clinical instructors ( n = 135) working in Israel, Norway, and the United States. The Nursing Clinical Instruction Role Assessment Tool (N-CIRAT) was developed to elicit clinical instructors' perspectives on the importance and nature of their work roles. FINDINGS: The N-CIRAT exhibited good reliability and revealed three different work roles: educator, hospital partner, and patient advocate. The educator work role did not differ by primary employer; it did for the work role of hospital partner ( p < .05) and patient advocate ( p < .05). Patient advocate work role importance was rated high for all clinical instructors. CONCLUSION: The educator role of clinical nurse educators, including being a role model and encouraging reflection, is universal among clinical instructors.