Getting grounded: Educational foundations for nurses' lifelong learning

Lifelong learning is key to excellent nursing. Ensuring nurses have a strong foundation for lifelong learning requires a connection between pre-licensure nursing education and ongoing workplace learning. Currently, however, a line deeply divides nurses' learning during post-secondary education and their learning in the workplace. Expanding on the findings from a previously published grounded theory study exploring workplace learning in experienced nurses, I explore aspects of the theory relevant to nursing education in more depth. I describe the concept of Getting Grounded, a process of developing foundational knowledge and dispositions that unites nursing education to workplace learning. This differs from the current focus on knowledge-based examinations and pressure for job-ready graduates. Through this re-examination of dispositions necessary for workplace learning and consideration of current and emerging educational initiatives, I argue that nurse educators can, and should, contribute to graduates' lifelong learning and improved patient care.