Torrie Snyder, PhD, RN

 
“My favorite part about being a nurse educator is witnessing a student’s "aha" moment! I love to teach Fundamentals of Nursing and Clinical Ethics course because it is the students’ first interaction with patients, and they are excited about learning.  
 
A nurse educator provides encouragement, motivates and helps students become strong confident nurses! It means a great deal to me to be a nurse educator. During my undergrad, I struggled academically, and I will never forget one of my professors encouraging me along the way. I became a nurse educator because of that professor. She was a great mentor.  I love being a nurse. I have had many great experiences throughout my career. I have experienced many sides of nursing before becoming an educator and for that I am forever grateful.”   
   
As a nurse you always advocate for your patients, but as a nurse educator there are times when you must advocate for your students. Some students require additional resources beyond the classroom to learn and petitioning for those resources to be available for our students is advocacy. Providing safe spaces and safe classrooms is another way to advocate for our students.  
 
What would I say to the future generations of Black nurses? The nursing workforce needs you!  
It is necessary to diversify the nursing workforce to provide culturally competent care to our patients. The need for underrepresented groups in nursing continues to grow and has become a high priority for the nursing profession.