"TEACHING TABLES I:"Telling Our Stories: Building Students’ Writing and Leadership Skills through Publication

Abstract

In May 2007, students in the Clinical Nurse Educator Academy wrote stories about their experiences moving from roles as experienced clinicians into new roles as clinical preceptors and educators, where they often felt like novices. These stories were so meaningful that the class of Nurse Educator graduate students in January 2008 implemented a project to publish the stories in a book that could enhance learning for future students. The students formed editing, graphic design, and publication teams to complete the project in one semester They contracted with iUniverse for online publishing of the book, which allowed for consistent control of the manuscript and timely submission.The result is Reflections: Nurses as Educators, in which the students reflect on their experiences as nurses and nurse educators. http://www.iuniverse.com/Bookstore/BookSearchResults.aspx?Search=nurses%20as%20educators This creative project encouraged the students to appreciate how publication of nursing stories impacts the positive image of nursing.Publication of a book of narratives is applicable to many disciplines, especially those attempting to increase recruitment of individuals to the field. The valuable skills of writing, editing, grant writing, team work, reflection, organization, and a beginning knowledge of the publication process are gained through a project like this.Publication of the book was funded by a grant from Sigma Theta Tau, Epsilon Zeta Chapter. Proceeds from book sales fund projects benefiting nursing students and faculty involved in nursing education.