Running head: NLN CORE COMPETENCIES
Self Evaluation using NLN Core Competencies
Anna Gilson
University of South Florida
July 7, 2012
“I affirm/swear that the work on this assignment is my original work”
Anna Gilson
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Self Evaluation using NLN Core Competencies
The National League for Nursing (NLN) (2005) has developed core competencies that all
nurse educators should strive to meet throughout their careers. These competencies cannot be
met solely prior to graduating with a masters in nursing education, but I have been able to begin
my work towards reaching the goal of complying with the core competencies set forth by the
NLN. There are eight core competencies developed by the NLN and they include (1) Facilitate
Learning, (2) Facilitate Learner Development and Socialization, (3) Use Assessment and
Evaluation Strategies, (4) Participate in Curriculum Design and Evaluation of Program
Outcomes, (5) Function as A Change Agent and Leader, (6) Purse Continuous Quality
Improvement in the Nurse Educator Role, (7) Engage in Scholarship, and (8)Function within the
Educational Environment (NLN, 2005). Although I do not hold a job within the academia aspect
of nursing I believe that I have been able to touch on all eight core competencies in one way or
another.
The first and second core competency, facilitate learning and facilitate learner
development and socialization, I believe that I have been provided the opportunity to meet some
of the sub standards stated within these competencies. While in my classroom practicum I was
able to implement different teaching strategies to better engage my students during my classroom
lecture on Teaching and Learning. The main part of the lecture included a PowerPoint but with
in certain parts of the during the lecture I implemented question and answer sections, videos
specific to the lecture content, and a student based activity. Along with my classroom clinical I
was able to participate in a staff development practicum at the hospital I work in. The staff
development clinical allowed me the chance to encourage and assist new and senior nurses in
updating their understanding of new and old clinical skills. As I have stated in my
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professional/personal philosophy it was important for me to return to school to not only further
my career but to also be able to teach new nursing students and help mold them to be the best
nurse they can be by giving adequate and professional care for their patients.
The third competency, use assessment and evaluation strategies, I was able to meet some
of the sub standards while completing my web-based clinical rotation. Within this clinical
rotation I was responsible for eight students. I had to ensure that I responded to all emails and
discussion board posts with in a timely manner so that students could complete assignments by
the assigned due dates. Along with offering open communication I also provided feedback on
assignments and assisted in guiding them in the right direction of finding accurate information
for assignments and papers, specifically APA format.
Competency four, participate in curriculum design and evaluation of program outcomes, I
have not been able to directly work on this, as I do not hold an educational position in nursing
academia. During my studies I have been able to gain an understanding of what this competency
means. I was able to review and suggest changes on the curriculum design of another university
baccalaureate program. While reviewing this curriculum I was required to make sure that the
program follows the philosophy and mission of not only the college of nursing but the main
university as well. These assignments provided me with the understanding of how curriculum
design and development transpires at the university level. I also was able to gain the knowledge
and understanding of how to write and implement adequate learning objectives for nursing
courses. The development of learning objectives is difficult and took sometime to figure out but I
was able to write fairly well learning objectives for lecture during my classroom practicum.
Competencies five and six, function as a change agent and leader and pursue continuous
quality improvement in the nurse educator role, have sub standards that I have met in either
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educational learning or professional work history. I am part of our nurse practice council at the
hospital I work at and within our council we strive to implement evidence-based/best practices to
everyday nursing. I also make myself as available as possible to those who have questions about
new nursing procedures that our nurse practice council has put in place. I additionally work as a
mentor for new graduate nurses and student nurses in their practicum rotation. I am a preceptor
for the new graduate nurses when hired for the unit I work on. Along with mentoring, I assist
senior nurses who have returned to school make the transition back into the university setting
more pleasant. Another way I have met these competencies is while in my classroom clinical I
received feedback from students on how I presented my lecture. This feedback was both positive
and negative but I took all the comments and compiled a list to ensure that I continue doing what
the students found to be a good and bad about my lecture. This type of feedback is good
especially for me since I am new to the nursing educator teaching role so I must take the good
with the bad and adjust where needed.
Competencies seven and eight, engage in scholarship and function within the educational
environment, I believe I was able to meet some of the sub standards listed within these two
competencies. While engaging in my practicum experiences of classroom, web-based, and
clinical I was able to convey my scholarly knowledge to my students that I was working with in
each setting. As I continued on my journey of obtaining my masters degree in nursing education
I was able to engage myself in the different aspects of evidence-based practice, simply by doing
research papers based on the new and current research that is considered to be evidence-based.
Not only do I meet the sub-standard in researching evidence-based papers but also in my
everyday practice of nursing within the maternal child unit that I work on. I have also gained a
great overview of the history of nursing education and what is expected of the nurse educator
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role in both academia and staff development. This foundation was gained from the three nursing
education courses that were taken during my schooling. I also have learned the importance of
communication between nurse faculty and nurse education staff in the hospital. In my clinical
practicum I was able to work very closely with not only my preceptor but with all of the different
unit educators learning their roles as well as what is expected of each of them with in each
department.
In conclusion, I may not have been able to meet all of the competencies to the full extent
but I will work to meet all of the sub standards beneath each competency. I am new to the nurse
educator role and as I continue to learn and grow in this role I will be able to fulfill the
competencies in more depth. Nursing is always changing and with it the role of the educator is
called upon with great expectations. I strive to become the best nursing educator that I can be
whether it be in the staff development role or the nursing faculty role. Nursing is my passion.
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Reference
National League for Nursing (NLN). (2005). Core competencies of nurse educators with task
statements. Retrieved from
http://www.nln.org/facultydevelopment/pdf/corecompetencies.pdf