The nurse educator role in the acute care setting in Australia: important but poorly described

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this paper is to describe the nurse educator role in the acute care setting in Australia. Method: A literature review using Ganong’s (1987) method of analysis was undertaken. Computerised databases were searched for articles published in English between 2000 and 2008 using the key words: ‘education’, ‘nursing’, ‘nurse‑educator’, ‘teaching methods’, ‘clinical’, ‘outcomes health care’ and ‘Australia’. Information was summarised to identify issues impacting on the nurse educator role using a standardised data extraction tool. Results: The search strategies generated 152 articles and reports. The review identified that the nurse educator role is fundamental in supporting clinical practice and integral to developing a skilled and competent health workforce. Conclusion: Confusion in nursing roles and role ambiguity contribute to the challenges for nurse educators in acute care. The absence of a national, standardised approach to role description and scope of practice in Australia may adversely impact role enactment. Further discussion and debate of the nurse educator role in Australia is warranted.