Nursing/Health Faculty member Inteview - Research Paper Example

The educator and institution The interviewee is the chairman and faculty member of the nursing graduate studies in a university. Aside from finishing her baccalaureate degree and being a registered nurse, she is also a degree holder in Master of Arts in Nursing (MAN), completed a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), and has been an educator for more than 30 years. As the chairman, there is an incorporation of administration in nursing education. Besides this, she is also an advocate of nursing research, encouraging her students to conduct studies to uplift the profession.

During the interview she mentions the need for leadership skills, and consideration for her co-faculty members and students who also play key roles in the institution. The university offers a baccalaureate degree in nursing and both Masters in Nursing (MN) and Master of Arts in Nursing (MAN), separating them into the college and graduate school departments. Some professors in the graduate school have teaching units in the college level, especially research subjects. The said institution has problems with the availability of competent nurse educators, a shortage experienced not only by this school but a dilemma that existed even in the 1980s as presented by Fitzpatrick and Heller (as cited in McDonald, 2007, p. 4). Role as chairman and faculty member Mixed roles may be present among nursing educators, depending on the institution’s need. . As a faculty member, job description includes controlling educational inputs, delivering information obtained from research, reading, and experience through lectures, moderating students to understand materials used, and administering tests to evaluate students’ mastery (Lindeman, 2000, p. 10). The interviewee reports performing the said activities during her classes.

Also, a faculty member is expected to help in the modification of the curriculum, course requirements, and policies, and in her case where she is also chairman, these are also some of her primary duties. She is not formally involved in the research aspect of the department, but she recognizes its importance, and encourages her students in both undergraduate and post-graduate classes to endeavor in this area. She has conducted researches herself in line with her practice, and continues as an adviser for students seeking help, and oftentimes a panel member for thesis defense.

Preparations needed for the role Qualifications for nursing administration positions usually entail experience in nursing and nursing education, some administration, and the ability to relate well to others in the nursing program, profession, school setting, and community; and the chairmanship is expected with a doctoral degree (Joel & Kelly, 2003, p. 347). As for this faculty member, she has taught in the university for a length of time, has been the dean of the nursing baccalaureate program in the same institution, and resides in the same community.

These support her credibility as the chairman of the department. Leadership is also important in this position, since this quality would affect the outcome of the entire institution. Because of this, a “desired candidate is usually described as a scholar with a track record of