Learning to Teach
Instructor Path Streamlined for
TNCC and ENPC
With the goal of improving the overall classroom experience for the Trauma Nursing Core Course and Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course, ENA is rolling
out a new training program for course instructors. The
Instructor Path offers potential instructors easy access to all
the visual components of the course and a greater
understanding of how to facilitate learning.
In the past, nurses pursuing instructor status took a 1-day
course for either TNCC or ENPC and then followed up with 2
days at a provider course in which they would teach under
the observation of an established instructor.
Now, before teaching under observation, prospective
instructors will spend time at home reviewing adult learning
theory and other important instructional concepts via
interactive online modules. Then candidates will come
together for a 1-day course devoted to practicing lecture skills.
The course content is covered by 10 online modules that
build upon each other and require 3. 5 to 4 hours of study. In
order, the modules are:
1. Instructor Path (which gives an overview of the
process)
2. Adult learning theories
3. Learning styles and generational differences
4. E-learning, blended learning and simulation
5. Critical thinking
6. How to teach a lecture
7. Teaching a psychomotor skill station
8. Evaluating a psychomotor skill station
9. Course integrity
10. Continuing nursing education
Current TNCC instructors who wish to teach ENPC are
encouraged to go back to the online modules in the few
instances where the content is specific to ENPC. The same is
true for ENPC instructors who wish to teach TNCC. But in
both cases, instructors are required to attend the 1-day
course to practice lecturing, group discussion and teaching a
skill station. This method uses material from the TNCC and
ENPC provider courses to make the practice session relevant
to the new instructor.
Becoming an instructor has 5 main steps:
1. Application. An emergency nurse who has passed the
provider course contacts his or her state council or
local chapter to express interest in becoming an
instructor or is invited to teach by a course director
who sees potential for excellence in teaching.
2. Online work. This new aforementioned step involves
the completion of the modules.
3. Mentorship. The emergency nurse forms a mentor
relationship with an established instructor for coaching
and guidance related to the instructor role.
4. 1-day course. 5 to 10 instructor candidates meet for 5
hours to practice together. The candidates will give a
minilecture, lead a group discussion and demonstrate
how to teach and evaluate at the skill stations. This
step puts all the lessons learned from the online
modules into action. Since the theoretical component
of the new Instructor Path already has been completed
on the learner’s own time, more time is available for
practice and feedback.
5. Monitored instruction. The instructor candidate spends
up to 2 full days teaching under observation. Day 1
comprises lectures and a practice station. Day 2
comprises lectures and a test station.
The new Instructor Path provides many more resources to
prospective instructors, said Diane Gurney, MS, RN, CEN,
FAEN, who was chair of the work team for the project.
“Then they would be able to spend the whole day doing sections of it hands-on,”
Gurney said. “You can’t just go to a 1-day course to learn to be an instructor for a
2-day provider course. You can’t get it all in 1 day.”
