Educator Teaches Chicago Students The Language Of The Nursing Industry
Technology has not only made the job market change when it comes to hiring practices, it has also affected the way nurses are being trained for their positions, including their level of education and relationships with patients.
According to the National League for Nursing, one of the top 10 trends include consumers' growing knowledge of the health care industry. Consumers are paying more attention to disease prevention, alternative health options and demanding more participation in clinical decisions.
It's one of many reasons that Amber Davis, M.S.N., RN, understands the growing need for nurses to earn their bachelor's degrees instead of just an associate degree, which is the basic requirement to become a registered nurse.
"The majority of nurses who are working right now currently hold just the associate degree," said Davis. "The baccalaureate degree introduces you to the leadership role that nursing has to play. Patients are steadily becoming more critical. Baccalaureate degree nurses have a lot more formal training, critical thinking and case management."
Davis also recommends that students take a second language, specifically Spanish or American Sign Language, to expand patient communication.
As a nursing educator at Northern Illinois University since the fall of 2013, it's no mystery why she's such an enthusiast about continuing education.
Davis holds an associate's nursing degree from Kishwaukee Community College, a bachelor's degree in Science and Nursing from Northern Illinois University, and a master's degree in Nursing Education from Lewis University.
"I often get the question, 'Do you miss patient care?'" said Davis. "Each year, 200 new future nurses will have an impact on patients' lives. I'm indirectly still part of that patient care. I get to see [nursing students] develop confidence and have those light bulb moments when they suddenly grasp a difficult concept."
Working under pressure is second nature to her, especially with four other siblings. After a freak accident when her sister jumped off the stairs and hit her head, Davis knew she worked well under pressure. As a pre-teenager, she called 911, cleaned up the blood spill and followed all the emergency steps she'd learned from her grandmother and two aunts, who were also nurses.
Nursing instincts are but one of many characteristics Davis hopes new nurses have.
"Be prepared to start a life-long process of learning. It's a very rigorous program anywhere you go. Stay focused. Stay balanced. Keep a good schedule so that [you] can manage [your] life and [your] courses."
Shamontiel L. Vaughn is a professional journalist who has work featured in AXS, Yahoo!, Chicago Defender and Chicago Tribune. She's been an Examiner since 2009 and currently writes about 10 categories on Examiner.com.
