Nursing Education: What Fits Best in a Changing World of Education Gogies?

Abstract

Nursing education has roots in religious organizations, and apprenticeship approaches to “training” nurses. Over time nursing education has moved to universities; yet retaining the critical practice nature of nursing. As a practice profession, nursing educators have to face the realities of ensuring that knowledge, skills, and values are taught in order for graduates to meet the entry to practice competencies. As graduates, nurses must also have the capacity to assess their knowledge gaps and be self-directed in filling those gaps so that they are providing evidence-based practice to those in their care. Educators must facilitate learning within best education practice, often identified as learner-centred approaches. In this discussion paper, we examine how nursing education has evolved, we critically examine the broader concepts of pedagogy, andragogy, heutagogy, and academagogy, and discuss how these fit within learner-centred approaches to nursing education.