In addition to teaching foundational concepts in class, certain Nursing professors are able to add real-life practical examples to lecture.
These professors are called Nursing clinician educators, Nursing faculty who work in clinical settings in addition to teaching and conducting research.
"It's a wonderful thing for us in terms of both teaching and research" associate professor of Nutrition Science clinician educator Charlene Compher explained. Clinical work brings both new technologies and the realities of patient care to the classroom.
"[Freshmen] haven't seen patients yet, so they don't necessarily have a sense of how you can practice," Compher said.
Clinician educators are common in fields such as medicine, but Penn is one of few to employ this program in its Nursing school.
School of Nursing Associate Dean for Academic Programs Kathleen McCauley explained that nationwide, "lots of faculty have clinical tracks, but in many schools the clinical track is a second-class faculty appointment. At Penn, it's a very formal appointment."
Nursing freshman Alison DeAngelis said she sees the immediate benefit of a clinician educator in many of her classes.
"Instead of learning concepts, [a clinician educator] makes it specific to what we're doing as nurses," she said.
Many non-Nursing students who take classes taught by clinician educators in Nursing also note the difference.
College Senior Amy Chowansky said she felt a greater emphasis on research in her class on Obesity and Society versus regular College courses.
Nursing classes taught by clinician educators also tend to be smaller and more interactive.
"Information is presented like it is one health-care professional teaching another," explained Nursing sophomore Carly Tourigian. Clinician educators might discuss cures to specific diseases affecting society.
But this doesn't mean other faculty don't provide up-to-date information.
"It would be easy to say that the professors who have clinical experience are more qualified . but it's not that cut-and-dry," Tourigian said.
"A great deal depends on the course that is being taught," she added. "I have had professors without clinical practice who are more than qualified to teach their subject, and do so extremely well."
Pediatric nurse practitioner and clinician educator Ann O'Sullivan believes that professors with clinical experience are part of why the Nursing school is so successful, especially when it comes to programs like the pediatric nurse practitioner program, which has a 100-percent pass rate.
Working at the number one children's hospital in the country - the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia - allows her to hear about the latest research, which she brings to the classroom, O'Sullivan said.
