Name: Leo Saligan
Current place of employment: Old Dominion University

Current role (clinical, administrative, dean, adjunct, etc.): Lecturer
Highest level of education: Master's of Science, Ph.D. student

Number of years you have been an RN: 12
Number of years as a Nurse Educator: 3

Why did you choose to teach nursing (variety of work, flexible work schedule, encourage and educate eager minds, etc.)?
I was offered a job during my last clinical semester in FNP. I had plans to pursue my Ph.D. and I felt that it would provide a great resource.

Over the year/s how has your initial opinion of teaching changed? What is responsible for those changes?
It changed tremendously. It is a very challenging role. It always requires flexibility and ingenuity to formulate teaching strategies to optimize learning.

Personally speaking, what is the best part of teaching nursing (advising students, classroom teaching, clinical instructing, etc.)?
Watching learning unfold in front of you, from both the students and myself. It is fulfilling when concepts and theories are clinically applied.

In your opinion, what is the most difficult part of being a Nurse Educator?
Failing a student. It is hard to give up on someone.

Would you encourage fellow RNs to consider becoming Nurse Educators? Why or Why not?
Absolutely yes. RN's are very gifted, resourceful, and dynamic. With the increased pan-global demand for nurses we need more RN educators.

In your opinion, what are some factors that retain you as a Nurse Educator?
A very supportive environment, allowing me to grow at my own pace.

What is your opinion of using the Internet as a teaching tool? (For example, one instructor teaching hundreds of students non clinical classes (A&P, Psychology etc.) in a virtual classroom?)
It is the perfect medium for this enormous pile of information. Classroom sessions are not enough to handle the bulk of information.

What is the main reason you see nursing students dropping out of programs?
Mostly personal reasons. In the area where I work, mostly job-related such as relocations, and military deployments.