Helen became a nursing lecturer at Saxion: 'I’ve let go of the fixed ideas as to who or what I should be as a lecturer.'
Ten years ago, Helen Meijrink became a nursing lecturer in higher vocational education, after previously working as a nurse. She’s now been a lecturer at Saxion for over three years. “At first, I still saw myself as a nurse. That is who I am, and it always will be, but lately I’ve also started to actually refer to myself a lecturer, too. In fact, it’s me who adds shape to that role. Most of all because of who I am as a person.”
The bond with Saxion has been there for quite some time, says Helen, who has been teaching at Saxion’s School of Health (AGZ) since 2017. Helen, who hails from Arnhem, says she chose Saxion’s Nursing programme as a student, too. So it was a bit of a homecoming, but one that came after an interesting journey. After all, how do you, as a nurse, work out that you can also become an effective teacher in your own field of expertise? For Helen, it was a gradual process.
From health care to education
“Looking back, I think I always had it in me to teach,” she says. “Way back in primary school, I already enjoyed giving presentations. Even without being asked. I remember giving a presentation on Anne Frank. It appeared that I just really liked the uninhibited feeling of standing in front of the class and explaining something to my classmates.” After earning her nursing degree, Helen worked for the next ten years in various health care positions. In the meantime, she got her Master’s degree in Nursing Sciences. “Soon after starting my job as a nurse, I realised I wanted more. But I didn’t yet have a clear idea as to what that should be. I wanted to put my Master’s to good use, but I didn’t want to end up in a job in between the medical and nursing fields. And I didn’t want to specialise in even more complex health care. Education seemed like a great step to take.”
Guiding students through the field of nursing.
While teaching several classes as a guest lecturer, Helen was reminded how much she enjoyed standing before a class of students. And so the switch from health care to education eventually followed. With some hesitation, at first: “A new role such as that takes some getting used to – going from nurse to lecturer is quite a change.” But, as she puts it, the position now fits her like a glove. “The first year is a big adjustment, of course, particularly in a new organisation. But after that you actually reap the rewards of the efforts you invest in your role as teacher. I love guiding all those students through the field of nursing, which I spent so many years working in myself.”
The first year is a big adjustment, of course, particularly in a new organisation. But after that you actually reap the rewards of the efforts you invest in your role as teacher. I love guiding all those students through the field of nursing, which I spent so many years working in myself.”
Teaching transfer students, lateral-entry students and people rejoining the labour market
What gives her that satisfaction? The energy she gets? “The students I meet at Saxion and have the privilege of teaching are very diverse. Some of them are young people who have consciously chosen to study nursing after secondary school. Others are adults who got started through the Saxion Parttime School as lateral-entry students or with the aim of rejoining the labour market. These students do a combined programme that includes both study and on-the-job training. They have taken a different path. It’s a great feeling to be able to teach all those people with such wide-ranging experience and from such diverse backgrounds.
Being yourself as a lecturer
In that sense, Helen says she had to ‘grow into’ her role as well. “I used to think teachers knew everything, and should always know the answer to every question immediately. Perhaps it helps that I had also been through my own process in that regard. Most importantly, I think I’m myself. I’ve let go of fixed ideas as to who or what I should be as a lecturer. During the pandemic, I would begin my online lessons with some music to start things off on a positive note. It was my personal touch. It’s not my style to only focus on theory. I enjoy getting into discussions with students. And I enjoy the critical questions and feedback they sometimes have. When that happens, I just allow myself to be vulnerable. That’s how you make real contact. And if I don’t know something, then we look for the answer together, or I come back to it later.”
Development opportunities for lecturers
Is there space, alongside teaching, for control over your own career at Saxion? “Definitely. That’s had a surprising effect, actually. When I applied at Saxion, I was very into the subject of sexuality and intimacy within the nursing field. I knew a fair amount about it, had given courses on it and had a particular interest in the subject. At Saxion, I ended up in the Health & Prevention learning pathway – another domain of nursing which I didn’t have much of an affinity with. I was given the opportunity to do a supplementary module in Intervention Mapping. In April, I also completed the postgraduate training to become a behavioural change facilitator. I never would have thought that I could find the subject so gripping. But now, I look at my field in a whole new light, and from a broader behavioural perspective. Just like my own interactions with the students. So yes, my development has continued. Also in terms of subject matter.”
I used to think that teachers knew everything, and should always know the answer to every question immediately. Perhaps it helps that I had also been through my own process in that regard. Most importantly, I think I’m myself. I’ve let go of fixed ideas as to who or what I should be as a lecturer.
Complementing each other
Helen says she herself also wants to make a contribution to Saxion as an organisation – in various ways. “I always do my best to get properly acquainted with new colleagues in the team and I am also coaching someone who joined us last academic year. This is still a very odd time and it’s important to be there for and keep an extra close eye on each other.” How else does she see herself contributing? “By continuing to be constructively critical about the developments. The nice thing is, the room is there to be able to do that. It is appreciated. Beautiful things are happening at Saxion, including in the Nursing programme. With the new Saxion Educational Model, for example. That will lead to all kinds of opportunities, for current and future colleagues alike. It’s nice to continue to look critically with each other at the ways in which we can keep building on that together as much as possible. Seasoned lecturers with their teaching experience and newcomers with their practical experience complement each other perfectly in that regard.”
Photo: Marcel Bonte