NurseWeek News

Try, Try Again
Success and failure go hand in hand on the road to progress

By Barbara Brown, Ed.D., RN, FAAN, Mountain West Editor
February 20, 2003

Technology is wonderful, offering almost immediate connection throughout the world and into space. Yet, the Columbia shuttle tragedy certainly played like a nightmare in the failure of technology, once again, to bring home seven courageous astronauts. I wonder how many people in the world were watching as the space shuttle disintegrated before our eyes.

I can recall watching as two men in bulky suits walked slowly and gingerly on the lunar landscape in 1969, with the whole world watching on television. Neil Armstrong's words, "one giant leap for mankind," still resonate in my mind. Then we had the Challenger tragedy 17 years ago and we were aghast with shock and discouragement about our technology in space. But onward we went, and now this event has brought world attention to the hazards of space travel.

As I communicate electronically with colleagues around the world, I would like to share the words of Professor Michael Herbst of the University of South Africa: "I could not believe my eyes and ears when … I heard about the horrific Columbia incident. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the affected families, friends and the people of the U.S."

But what happens if everything depends on technology? The quality of education relies on the quality of the educator. Today's nursing faculty may know "what," but not many know "how." There has to be a balance between what is taught (content) and how it is taught (method).

Health care has included information technology with expanding capability for more than two decades. Nursing leadership in both academia and patient care delivery systems need to form partnerships to enable the optimal use of technology in teaching nurses for all settings. Let us not be complacent in the use of technology in nursing education. We are facing a serious faculty shortage, coupled with a severe nursing shortage.

When I led nursing practice, research and education from 1987-91 in Saudi Arabia, distance learning for nurses to complete bachelor's and master's degrees was established. Several nurses were able to earn degrees while living and working abroad. Certification exams for many specialty areas also were made possible, thus enhancing the quality of care and promoting professional growth for nurses from many different countries.

As we look at the successes and failures of technology, we should remind ourselves that no one makes progress without making mistakes. If we do not continue to develop technological partnerships in nursing education and practice, we will make little progress in nursing education for the future. Let us stretch our limits into cyberspace and envision the world of nursing education of tomorrow.

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