Anne Harris

Learning should be engaging and enjoyable. If we help students discover who they are by discovering what motivates them and fills them with purpose, then we are promoting overall well-being and longevity in one’s nursing career. I believe the greatest gift received from teaching is knowing that you gave someone hope to embark on their own journey. 

Each student has their own unique background, belief system, culture, and goals. It is vital when teaching to see each student for who they are, meet them where they are, and treat them with dignity and respect. Students want to feel valued as they embark on their career and need guidance through positive reinforcement. This is given by focusing on what they are doing well, setting and accomplishing goals, and helping them problem solve when gaps of learning are discovered. Just like the art of Kintsugi, where broken pieces of pottery are bonded together with gold to highlight imperfections, we should teach students to embrace their imperfections, in order to build resilience.

I believe teaching is a pathway to share knowledge gained through one’s experience, education, and personal growth. The teachers who have made the greatest impact in my journey are those who have displayed a growth mindset, taught me to be curious, and promoted self-confidence through trust and personal discovery. Teaching has always been a passion of mine and my teaching experience began as a ski instructor for children. At that time, my philosophy for teaching was focused on building confidence through discovery, curiosity, and experiential play. As my career has transitioned into teaching nursing students, this philosophy has intergrated well with teaching through simulation. I believe attaining knowledge through curiosity and experiential learning promotes student engagement and interest in learning new subjects and/or skills. The knowledge gained influences how a student forms future clinical judgement through critical thinking. Critical thinking can be developed through deliberate practice, discovering learning gaps, and incorporating feedback. Simulation learning offers students the opportunity to integrate critical thinking in a safe learning environment by practicing skills and forming clinical judgement. The skills learned and decision-making practice carries into nursing practice where students can perform safely with confidence.