Faculty Q&A

Abstract

<table align="center" border="1" cellpadding="8" cellspacing="0" width="550"> <tbody><tr> <td><p></p><h3>Send in your questions for Faculty Q&A!</h3> <p>We want your questions not only about issues related to how to teach and instructional strategies, but also about other issues faced by faculty (both new and established). Here’s an example: </p> <p>“I was shocked to have a student accuse me of sexism. The student is male and says there is an inherent bias against male students, as I have answered questions posed to me by female students when we were in the change room preparing for a clinical shift. How can I guard against this type of unintentional problem in the future?” </p> <p><b>Here’s what you need to know: </b></p> <ol> <li> Questions need to be short and, preferably, include a specific scenario or examples.</li> <li>Submit questions that address practical issues faced by faculty and can be answered in a few paragraphs (see example above).</li> <li>Avoid broad questions that would require an entire article to answer.</li> <li>E-mail your questions, along with your full name and credentials, to Karen G. Stanwood, ELS, Executive Editor, at <a href="mailto:kstanwood@slackinc.com">kstanwood@slackinc.com</a>.</li></ol></br></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <h4>EXCERPT</h4> <P>Our BSN program recently experienced a glut of students applying for admission. As a result, our admissions cohorts are filled, and the admissions committee has started talking about raising the required grade point average (GPA) or the science GPA to manage the glut. However, raising the admission GPA would decrease the number of Hispanic applicants (the fastest growing minority group in the state) by half, as well as the number of Alaska Native and African-American applicants. How do you strike an appropriate balance between “excellent” and “adequate” admission GPAs? </P> <p>I’m planning to pursue a career in nursing education, because I want to teach and grow the future nursing workforce. I’ve been told I will need to get my doctoral degree to be considered for a tenure-track position. I’ve looked at both the PhD and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs, and it seems the DNP is more suited to my interests, because I don’t see myself focusing on research as much as on teaching. Do you think I’ll be able to accomplish my academic career goals with a DNP?</P> <p>What process do instructors use to determine “essential” versus “nice-to-know” information? For example, many assessment texts used for new nursing students report information that only advanced practice nurses will use. </P>