The nurse educator role in the acute care setting in Australia: important but poorly described

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Jan M Sayers RN Grad Dip Ad Ed MA (Ed Admin)
Michelle DiGiacomo BA MHSc(Hons) PhD
Patricia M Davidson RN PhD FRCNA

Keywords

nurse educator, clinical nurse educator, hospital educator

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this paper is to describe the nurse educator role in the acute care setting in Australia.


Method: A literature review using Ganong’s (1987) method of analysis was undertaken. Computerised databases were searched for articles published in English between 2000 and 2008 using the key words: ‘education’, ‘nursing’, ‘nurse‑educator’, ‘teaching methods’, ‘clinical’, ‘outcomes health care’ and ‘Australia’. Information was summarised to identify issues impacting on the nurse educator role using a standardised data extraction tool.


Results: The search strategies generated 152 articles and reports. The review identified that the nurse educator role is fundamental in supporting clinical practice and integral to developing a skilled and competent health workforce.


Conclusion: Confusion in nursing roles and role ambiguity contribute to the challenges for nurse educators in acute care. The absence of a national, standardised approach to role description and scope of practice in Australia may adversely impact role enactment. Further discussion and debate of the nurse educator role in Australia is warranted.

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