Recommended Resources for Nurse Educators (That I Actually Use & Love!)

There’s a growing community of creators and educators building practical, innovative tools you can use in your teaching. These are people (and small teams) doing creative work specifically for nurse educators.

Social media can sometimes have negative energy, but when curated well, it can become a source of joy, inspiration, and professional growth.

Here are a few accounts I follow regularly that offer that blend of insight and humanity that reminds me that the world is a good place.

Why follow social media professionally? Because it lets you see how other clinicians, educators, and thinkers interpret their world and inspires you to bring fresh ideas into your own teaching.

Podcasts are my favorite way to stay inspired while doing mindless chores like laundry, during commutes between my kids' practice, or while on a quick walk. The best ones feel like a mix of professional development, storytelling, and coffee with a clever friend.

Here are a few that leave me feeling energized, entertained, and full of ideas to bring back to the classroom.

First up is my podcast! Learning Lab RN is a practical, inspiring podcast featuring real conversations with creative instructors who are transforming nursing education through active learning. With a focus on engagement, critical thinking, and clinical reasoning, the podcast showcases classroom-ready ideas that don’t require expensive tech or hours of prep. It’s a space where nurse educators share what’s working in their programs, and listeners walk away with ready-to-use strategies to implement right away.

In the “The OB Blitz: Hands-On Mastery in One Day” episode, the guest breaks down an innovative, fast-paced approach to reviewing obstetrics content. Rather than relying on traditional lectures, this method uses stations and active movement to keep students alert, engaged, and thinking critically about labor stages, interventions, and safety concerns. The episode walks educators through how to run a blitz-style day, from setup to execution, making it easy to bring energy and structure to OB review.

First up is an inspirational podcast with episodes that are short and sweet. Because Dr. Linder is a busy academic professional, each episode is only about 10 minutes, which is refreshing. The podcast aims to support higher education professionals in their personal and professional growth. Katie Linder, a coach, author, and expert in faculty development, explores productivity, work-life balance, and self-care. Katie’s background as a coach and her commitment to fostering well-being come through in every episode. She asks thought-provoking questions and shares strategies to help listeners reflect on their goals and how they connect to our daily practices. This podcast is an excellent resource for those looking to cultivate mindfulness and intentionality while excelling in an academic career and a vibrant personal life.

In the episode titled "Questions for a Mid-Career Reflection," Katie Linder guides you through a series of reflective questions about past growth and sets intentions for the future. This episode is especially helpful for those at a career crossroads, offering a way to navigate decisions with clarity and purpose.

I appreciate Dr. Linder’s approach to mindfulness, as she encourages us to carefully edit and curate our experiences to align us with our purpose. She often shares her own goals outside of her career as an academic and how these bring her joy and deep fulfillment.

This podcast is for those looking to enhance their teaching strategies and stay up to date on best practices in nursing education. Hosted by Dr. Marilyn H. Oermann, a renowned nurse educator and author with extensive experience in nursing education, the show includes discussions on current trends and real-world examples of how to apply these strategies in the classroom or clinical setting. Most episodes feature interviews with nurse educators researching new teaching tools, developing creative curricula, and implementing innovative teaching techniques.

The "Elevating SBARs to Enhance Clinical Judgment" episode discusses how educators can leverage the SBAR tool beyond nurse-to-nurse report. The educators in this episode, Dr. Lesley Bonfe and Dr. Emily Carroll, discuss how they implemented an “SBAR Final,” in which students complete a simulation and are then randomly assigned to give a record of the event to either a new nurse, a provider, or a family member. With this, students must adapt their communication style according to their audience. The educators have developed a rubric and provide students with immediate feedback on their report. The episode continues to explore different ways to organize information and communication styles.

This show is not a teaching-specific podcast but instead a thought-provoking one. It will encourage you to rethink assumptions about work, life, and everything in between. 

Hosted by Adam Grant, an organizational psychologist, bestselling author, and professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, the podcast investigates the science of human behavior and decision-making. Adam is known for his deep curiosity and ability to connect with a wide range of guests, from business leaders to artists and scientists, drawing out insights, new ways to approach problems, and offering a fresh perspective. Each episode is a journey into the minds of innovative people who question the status quo and offer new ways of thinking about familiar challenges.

When Adam Grant interviews “Admiral Linda Fagan on Servant Leadership,” the conversation centers on the principles of servant leadership and how they can be applied in high-stakes environments like the U.S. Coast Guard. First, I enjoyed the discussion about women in the military and how the quality and camaraderie increased as the diversity of a group increased. Also, Admiral Fagan shares her experiences as a leader and how she challenged the “we’ve always done it this way” mindset that can be pervasive in the military (it also hangs out in nursing education). She talks about how changing the status quo and allowing for flexibility and fluidity around work has become essential as the workforce has changed.

The big takeaway from that discussion is that change is risky, but not changing, in many ways, is the greater risk. The episode reinforced the idea that effective leadership is not about exerting control but about enabling others to succeed, making it a fantastic listen for anyone interested in leadership and organizational development.

My favorite part of this podcast is the host. Simon Sinek, a renowned author, motivational speaker, and leadership expert best known for his "Start With Why” concept. He has a warm and thoughtful interviewing style that encourages deep, reflective discussions. Each episode features conversations with a diverse range of guests, from thought leaders to artists, who share their personal stories and insights on how to find meaning, hope, and optimism in everyday life.

🎧 In the episode titled "Life Worth Living with Miroslav Volf," the conversation centers around the profound question of what makes a life truly worth living. Miroslav Volf, a theologian and professor at Yale Divinity School, shares his insights on navigating life's complexities and finding deeper meaning beyond material success. I found Volf's reflections on balancing personal fulfillment with ethical responsibility and aligning one's life with core values and purpose. The episode offers a thoughtful exploration of how to cultivate a life that is not just successful but also deeply meaningful.

I have been exploring, reading, and learning about alternative grading for the past few years. While there is no standard definition (it has come to mean different things to different instructors), it could be a key to unlocking the complexity of evaluation in nursing education. 

This podcast investigates the intricacies of grading and assessment in higher education. Sharona Krinsky, a mathematics instructor, and Robert Bosley, an experienced educator and administrator, co-host the show. Together, they explore a wide range of topics related to grading, including fairness, feedback, and innovative assessment methods. The podcast is for educators who want to better understand the impact of grading on student learning and seek practical strategies to enhance their grading practices.

In the episode "Alternative Grading in a Large Chemistry Class," Dr. Eden Tanner discusses her transition to alternative-format grading in a large general chemistry course. Her journey felt similar to mine, as she describes a general feeling of dissatisfaction with the limits of a five-exam format in her course. She started with the idea of an “Amnesty Week, where, for the last two weeks of class, she reopened all of the assignments for everyone to retake. Then, her teaching practice started to include metacognitive activities as part of the assessment process with weekly reflections. Then, it transitioned to include unlimited tries on homework and quizzes. She has also worked on an alternative, unlimited exams framework - a student will sit for the original exam in class, work out corrections immediately afterward, and then take an alternative exam immediately. With this, students could discover and tease out the underlying concepts they were missing, correct the thought process, and repeat this for each exam. They are guided toward a more intensive intervention if they don’t get a concept right by attempt #3.

I believe there are so many alternative grading practices that could promote learning and clinical judgment within nursing education. We often think of the obstacles we face with alternative grading (content, class size, NCLEX, etc.), but this podcast addresses how others have successfully overcome these. I will continue to explore alternative grading options, but if you have any that are working in your programs, please reach out and let me know! I would love to hear about them.

This podcast is for academic writers and scholars looking to improve their writing productivity and confidence. Hosted by Dr. Cathy Mazak, a writing coach, professor, and founder of a coaching program for academic women, the show focuses on strategies to overcome common obstacles in academic writing, such as writer's block, time management, and imposter syndrome. Cathy draws on her extensive academic experience to give practical advice, share success stories, and provide tools that empower you to amplify your academic voice through writing.

In the episode titled "Perfectionism and Self-Editing," Cathy tackles the pervasive issue of perfectionism in academic writing and its impact on self-editing. She discusses how perfectionist tendencies can hinder progress by leading writers to overedit and second-guess their work, ultimately causing delays and frustration. She offers tips on setting realistic expectations and embracing imperfection to move forward with writing projects. The episode also provides practical strategies for more effective self-editing, such as focusing on clarity and flow rather than striving for an unattainable level of perfection. This podcast is helpful for anyone looking to enhance their writing process, publish more effectively, and balance their academic and personal lives.

This podcast, hosted by Jennifer Gonzalez, a former middle school teacher and National Board Certified educator, focuses on practical teaching strategies, classroom management tips, and insights into the latest education trends. While the intended audience is K-12 teachers, the topics covered are highly relevant to educators at all levels, including higher education. Many of the techniques and ideas discussed can be adapted for nursing education, offering valuable tools to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes in various settings.

In the episode titled "Two Effective Ways to Teach Annotation," two educators (one in elementary and one in high school) explore the importance of teaching students how to annotate texts effectively, which nursing students can also struggle with. Annotation is critical for nursing students because it enables them to engage with textbooks or research articles, identify key concepts, and apply what they've learned to clinical practice. Students can practice this in a group, with each assigned a role in annotating the text. Note: this matrix would need to be modified for nursing education, but the general idea is the same.

Dr. Hrach explores the connection between our physical environment, bodily experience, and learning. This book argues that traditional learning environments neglect the role of the body in the learning process and clearly explains how classroom layout, sensory stimuli, and physical activities influence cognitive processes. Drawing on research from neuroscience, psychology, and education, Dr. Hrach urges educators to consider the embodied aspects of learning, using vivid examples and case studies to illustrate how to implement these techniques.

For those in nursing education, 'Minding Bodies' is a guide for transforming our classrooms and revolutionizing our teaching styles. It inspires us to look beyond traditional tools and explore embodied learning as a way to improve the application of clinical knowledge. The book offers practical suggestions that can be seamlessly integrated into your teaching practice, sparking inspiration and motivation.

🪑 Flexible Seating: Encourage movement by offering different seating options, such as standing desks, exercise balls, or movable chairs. This allows students to change their posture and engage their bodies as they learn.

🪐 Use of Space: Rearrange the classroom layout to promote interaction and collaboration. Consider breaking away from the traditional rows of desks and instead creating zones for group work, discussion, or solo activities.

🤹 Incorporate Movement: Integrate activities that require students to stand, move around, or change locations during class. This could include walking discussions, role-playing exercises, or simple stretching breaks.

🧘‍♂️ Mind-Body Practices: Introduce practices like mindfulness, breathing exercises, or brief meditative moments to help students become more aware of their physical presence and mental state, fostering a holistic approach to learning.

The book gives us a foundation for a more holistic approach to teaching, helping us to understand and appreciate the connections between physical space, sensation, and movement.

There are so many active learning ideas out in the world. K-12 teachers, industry-based educators, and other higher education professionals across departments use innovative and exciting teaching techniques. However, I have found translating their incredible ideas to nursing education challenging. It just doesn’t always fit the content, the room arrangement, or work with the number of students in class.

But this book is a treasure trove of ideas specifically tailored to nursing education. It offers tools for large groups, ideas for small classes, strategies for evaluation, and techniques for improving clinical decision-making - all within a practical framework. It provides a general description of the equipment needed and examples of the strategy at work. I have used many of these activities in practice and always feel reassured and confident in putting my unique spin on the learning activity.

Learning a new skill is challenging. It often comes with uncomfortable feelings. In the book's introduction, the author describes the chapters as “a tool to become a more independent learner.” And this is something we, as educators, are all trying to encourage in our students. The book's alignment with this goal makes it a win for us as lifelong learners and our students.

Throughout the chapters, titled by the aspects of learning you want to improve (e.g., How to Understand Lectures or How to Learn from Past Exams), Willingham gives practical examples and ideas for understanding and overcoming the mental barriers that make learning difficult. The book offers research findings that contradict common learning practices (i.e., passive reading is not recommended). Instead, it provides evidence-based techniques to enhance comprehension, memory, and critical thinking.

He emphasizes the importance of active engagement, effective note-taking, and self-testing to make learning more effective and less frustrating. It is helpful to students, teachers, and lifelong learners, or anyone who wants to improve their learning processes.

Previously, I wrote a series on creating a second brain, a concept that refers to using external tools to offload cognitive tasks from our primary brain. Our beautiful brains are made for generating ideas, not storing to-do lists, and remembering daily tasks. And freeing up this brain bandwidth is where Notion has stepped in for me, helping to organize my personal and professional life. I can create an interconnected web of knowledge that seamlessly integrates all my tasks, notes, and projects. For example, I have an “active learning” tag that I can apply to any books I read, podcasts I listen to, or notes I take from my phone. This interconnectedness allows me to see the bigger picture and make connections between different pieces of information effortlessly.

Before Notion, my notes were scattered across virtual files in Google Drive, my email, my desktop, and random Dropbox folders. But with the Notion setup I created, I can quickly reference what I need, no matter how extensive my notes have become. Instead of sifting through endless files and folders, I can locate exactly what I am looking for with just a few keywords in the search bar. This has brought a sense of order and control to my work, relieving the stress of scattered information.

It has also helped me to “capture” my ideas. My brain would light up with great ideas at the most inconvenient times, mostly while driving or without a notebook. But I can quickly jot down my thoughts on my phone’s Notion app and know it is safe to access when I am ready instead of lost somewhere in the dark corners of my brain.

With that, I also have a “someday/maybe” file in Notion where I store ideas I love but don’t have the time for right now. It could be years before I could work on them, but I keep adding notes or more ideas to this file, and when the time comes, I have loads of material to work with. This feature is particularly useful for long-term planning and idea management.

With Notion, I have created a centralized hub for all my projects, tasks, network, and notes. It has eliminated the chaos of scattered documents and the feeling of "being scattered.”

Canva is an excellent graphic design tool that lets you create visually engaging content for your courses. With its user-friendly interface and a vast library of templates, images, and design elements, you can easily craft professional-quality presentations, infographics, and handouts that build on the awesome active learning activities that you already create.

I had used PowerPoint for years, but it always felt a bit “stale.” Now, all of my slide decks are in Canva. They are beautiful and easy to edit.

🎙️ I can even record lessons with my talking head down in the corner and store 5GB of video on their free plan! Everything is also easy to share and I can download multiple formats (.png, PDFs, MP4) so I have whatever I need for that project.

Canva also offers collaborative features, making it easy to collaborate on projects and share resources. Canva is essential to my teaching toolkit and can elevate your instructional materials, making lessons more dynamic and appealing to students.

Canva also offers many of it's premium features for *FREE* to educators!

I started using Grammarly to check my grammar (its vs. it’s still gets me), but it has become an essential writing assistant. At a basic level, it quickly identifies and corrects errors, ensuring my writing is clear, concise, and mistake-free. But beyond basic checks, Grammarly also provides advanced insights into tone, clarity, and engagement, allowing you to better connect with students or peers. It integrates easily with various platforms, including email, word processors, and Google products, making it a fantastic writing companion that boosts your confidence and proficiency.

And it is also using AI to increase the impact of your text. It can provide suggestions to help you identify the main point of your writing, focus on critical details, and make your message easier to understand. It may rephrase a sentence to “sound more confident,” adjust the structure of a paragraph, or expand on key details. And these are all suggestions, so you can use and modify them however you like.

These decks are designed specifically for nurse educators who want to ditch the lecture and bring active learning into clinical, lab, or classroom settings without hours of prep. Each deck includes thoughtfully crafted patient scenarios that prompt students to apply clinical judgment, practice prioritization, and work through unfolding care decisions in real time. Whether you're teaching in Fundamentals, OB, Pediatrics, Community Health, or Med-Surg, there's a deck that aligns with your content.

What makes these decks especially helpful is how versatile and easy they are to implement. You can use them in small groups, as a full-class activity, or even in a skills lab or sim. They help you save time on planning while still engaging students. Educators consistently tell me that the decks encourage deeper thinking, spark discussion, and help students build confidence before clinicals or exams.