Today’s First Grader is Tomorrow’s Nurse
The new graduate nurse of 2035 (that’s less than 15 years from today) most likely spent part of this past year sitting at home in a zoom first grade classroom. (The US Census Bureau reports that nearly 93% of households with school-age children reported some form of distance learning during COVID-19.) He or she mastered navigating between videoconferencing, the use of a chat space, and paper based materials. Their primary tool for learning was their laptop. They became adept at logging on, managing their video, and muting and un-muting themselves. They know how to learn new content, navigate between different learning platforms, and even participate in an exercise class (aka physical education) using video conferencing. They understand how to focus their attention, for the most part, on the video screen without getting distracted by the barking dog or ringing doorbell. They even have a little laughter and silliness embedded in their video learning experience.
In the even shorter term, the future newly graduated nurse of 2024 — a mere three years from today — has spent most if not all of their first year of college in a virtual classroom.
Whatever happens, it’s unlikely that education will ever entirely return to a pre-COVID era. We have to believe that the future of education has been fundamentally changed. More than that, this shift in education will also affect the future of nursing.
Are you ready for the college freshman to be starting their practice three years from now? Are you ready for today’s first grader to be your colleague or your employee 14 years from now?
”If we teach today’s students as we taught yesterday’s, we rob them of tomorrow.” ― John Dewey
About the Authors
Pam Thompson MS, RN, FAAN is the CEO Emeritus of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership, formerly AONE. During the same time, 2000–2016, she was the Senior VP of Nursing for the American Hospital Association. After retiring in 2017, she now serves as a healthcare consultant and volunteer board member and trustee for several healthcare entities.
Marla Weston PhD, RN, FAAN is the past CEO of the American Nurses Association Enterprise which included the American Nurses Association, American Nurses Credentialing Center and American Nurses Foundation, serving from 2009 to 2018. She now is a consultant and facilitator in leadership development, organizational strategy and growth, and future trends.
