Practical Learning

• Classes should reflect what students will be doing in their professional lives. Whenever possible, have demonstrations of technique and give students the opportunity to practice procedures. Pair students up when working on a particular technique, and have them give each other feedback and suggestions for improvement. Remember to relate theory to everyday working life and give real life examples of using knowledge in the field from your own experience.
  
  

Listening to Students

• One of the most difficult aspects of teaching adult students is understanding their knowledge levels. Many adult students may already have firsthand experience with nursing or the effects of illness. Remember to include the viewpoints of informed students in your lessons, and allow the class to compare experiences when it seems like there is potential for a worthwhile discussion. Be careful of letting your lessons get off topic, however, and remember that personal experience and learned theory are two different things.
  
  

What If? Questions

• Nursing students need to be prepared to cope with not only the most commonly observed result of a procedure, but also all of the potential results and side effects that could occur. Pepper your lessons with "What if?" questions, such as "What if the patient had an allergic reaction to the pain killer?" "What if the patient hadn't disclosed a recent drug prescription?" and "What if your diagnosis was incorrect?" Questions like these will get students thinking creatively and problem solving.
  
  

Set Goals

• Having set goals for your course can greatly improve the overall success of the class. At the start of a course, ask students to set goals for themselves and explain to them your goals for the program. When students have a defined point to work toward, it's easier to track progress and see results. At the end of each class, ask yourself, "What were my learning aims for this class?" "What did we accomplish today?" and "Do I feel like I communicated the material effectively?"