Those who have read the other editions of this book will be pleased to know that the quality and expertise found in the fourth edition are at the same high standards as the other three. The purpose of Clinical Teaching Strategies in Nursing is to provide nurse educators with a functional and effective resource to use when designing clinical education. Although the authors state that the book is intended for academic educators, the content is easily adaptable to nursing professional development specialists working in acute care settings, as well as in disciplines other than nursing. The authors have a significant amount of experience and expertise in teaching and education, which brings a wealth of knowledge to the subject matter.
Technically, the book is divided into three sections. The first section provides a comprehensive overview of the foundations of clinical teaching. The authors challenge the reader to think outside of the traditional approach to clinical teaching, providing suggestions and guidance on how to do this. The authors also provide helpful examples in this section and throughout the book that give the reader practical tools to apply on the job.
The second section of the book focuses on diverse teaching strategies determined to be effective. I found this section to be the most interesting because the authors describe, in detail, seven (7) strategies for improving clinical teaching. Each strategy discusses the attributes and items for consideration. In addition, they are very specific in providing not only the background of the strategy but also the nuts and bolts of how to begin using them. For example, the authors discuss the use of simulation. They further describe how to choose the type of simulation, how to implement simulation, and how to debrief. The tool provided includes questions educators can use when preparing for simulations. As they review other strategies, the same format is used, which provides a rich resource for newer educators.
Having read that the newest edition to the book was the chapter on pedagogical technologies for clinical teaching, I had some concerns the information might not be the most cutting edge. However, I was pleasantly surprised to see they covered key strategies in this new age, including gaming, videos, and mobile devices, along with a list of learning repositories should the reader want to learn more. With today's technological resources, this chapter is a must read.
The last portion of the book is short yet extremely important. The authors discuss evaluation strategies to use when grading both written and clinical assignments that readers can adopt easily into practice.
One unique benefit is the Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) test blueprint located at the end of the book. The CNE test blueprint is used at the end of each chapter to identify the core competencies related to the content. Educators interested in taking the CNE examination could use this book as a method for review. There is also a reference on how to obtain an instructor's manual for faculty who adopt the textbook in their classrooms.
Clinical Teaching Strategies in Nursing is a well-organized, thorough, and practical book for any type of clinical educator. The information within the chapters provides solid, practical examples and strategies in an easy-to-read format. The content is current and includes everything an educator needs to know in providing successful teaching experiences for students.
Disclaimer: The author has disclosed that she has no significant relationships with, or financial interest in, any commercial companies pertaining to this review.