Quality assurance systems for nurse educators

This paper seeks to examine two systems designed for thinking about and improving the understanding of quality assurance in nurse educator functions, using Total Quality Management (TQM) principles. The first system is concerned with what needs to be done to realise major goals and objectives. The design parameters, adapted from established quality concepts, are those quality characteristics specifically associated with nurse educator functions--perceived as a set of services. The second system considers how things should be done. How policy statements can be translated into specific educator behaviours and practices that publicly assert institutional values to student customers within a process of continuous quality improvement. Further sections look at the integrated working of the systems and discuss system implications. A final summary exhorts nurse educators to forge closer working relationships with their student customers to fashion a quality service.