Supporting Struggling Learners in Nursing Education: Ethical Considerations and Formative Assessment

QUESTION

Reflect on what you have read in the literature or experienced firsthand, and recall situations that involve nursing students, RNs, or patients/families struggling with learning or performance. Select one situation to address in this Discussion and consider the following:

• Think about potential indications that might have signified that someone was experiencing a learning challenge. How might a nurse educator have recognized the difficulty the learner was experiencing?
• Consider how a nurse educator might use formative assessment/evaluation to monitor learning and/or performance. How could assessment/evaluation be used to identify indicators of struggle and, ultimately, lead to performance improvement?
• Examine strategies that support struggling learners. If you were the nurse educator in this situation, which strategies would you most likely employ?
• Identify potential ethical and legal concerns associated with your strategies. What considerations should guide your behaviors and interactions as a nurse educator, for instance, in using one or more of these strategies, communicating with the learner, or consulting with authorities or others at your institution?

Give a description of a situation involving a learning challenge. Explain how a nurse educator could use formative assessment/evaluation to monitor learning and/or performance, and how this could help him or her to identify early indicators of learning difficulties. Propose two strategies that a nurse educator could use to support the struggling learner. Explain two potential legal and/or ethical considerations that should guide the nurse educator’s behavior and interactions associated with supporting a learner’s performance.

ANSWER

Supporting Struggling Learners in Nursing Education: Ethical Considerations and Formative Assessment

Introduction

In nursing education, learners, including nursing students and RNs, may encounter challenges in learning and performance. Recognizing early indicators of learning difficulties and providing appropriate support is vital to ensure the success and professional growth of these individuals. This essay discusses a situation involving a learning challenge and explores how a nurse educator can use formative assessment/evaluation to monitor learning and performance. Additionally, two strategies to support struggling learners will be proposed, along with ethical considerations guiding the nurse educator’s behaviors and interactions.

Situation Involving a Learning Challenge

A nursing student, Jessica, has consistently shown difficulty grasping the concepts of medication dosage calculations during her clinical rotations. Despite the nurse educator’s efforts to provide additional resources and tutoring, Jessica’s performance in this area remains below the expected standard.

Using Formative Assessment/Evaluation

A nurse educator can use formative assessment/evaluation to monitor Jessica’s learning and performance. Frequent quizzes, skills checklists, and simulation exercises focused on medication dosage calculations can provide real-time feedback on her understanding and performance. Tracking Jessica’s progress through these assessments can help the nurse educator identify early indicators of her learning difficulties.

Identifying Early Indicators of Learning Difficulties

Through formative assessment, the nurse educator may notice persistent incorrect calculations, hesitation during medication administration, and lack of confidence in handling medications. These signs could suggest that Jessica is struggling with understanding dosage calculations, which requires immediate attention and intervention.

Strategies to Support Struggling Learners

Individualized Learning Plan: The nurse educator can collaborate with Jessica to develop an individualized learning plan that addresses her specific learning needs. This plan may include additional tutoring, customized learning materials, and targeted practice sessions to reinforce the concepts.

Mentoring and Peer Support: Pairing Jessica with a mentor or assigning her to a study group with peers who excel in medication dosage calculations can provide a supportive learning environment. This fosters peer learning and helps Jessica gain confidence and practical tips from her peers.

Ethical Considerations and Guiding Behaviors

Confidentiality and Privacy: As a nurse educator, it is essential to maintain confidentiality and privacy when addressing Jessica’s learning challenges. Sharing her struggles with other students or faculty without her consent may lead to embarrassment and hinder her progress.

Informed Consent and Autonomy: When implementing individualized learning plans or interventions, the nurse educator must obtain informed consent from Jessica and respect her autonomy. Jessica should have a say in the strategies used to support her learning and feel empowered in her educational journey.

Conclusion

Supporting struggling learners in nursing education requires vigilant monitoring through formative assessment/evaluation and early identification of learning difficulties. In the case of Jessica, the nurse educator can use frequent assessments to recognize her challenges in medication dosage calculations. By developing individualized learning plans and fostering peer support, the nurse educator can help Jessica overcome her struggles and achieve success in her nursing education. Ethical considerations, such as confidentiality, privacy, informed consent, and autonomy, should guide the nurse educator’s behaviors and interactions throughout this supportive process. By ensuring a supportive and respectful learning environment, nurse educators can help struggling learners reach their full potential and flourish in their nursing careers.