A conversation captured of the President of the Thailand Nursing and Midwifery Council, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Suchitra Luengamornlert, regarding the “Directions of quality standards for nursing educators in the new normal era.

Abstract

This invited special article provides a concise overview of an important forum held at the Faculty of Nursing, Khon Kaen University, leading the panel discussion by the President of the Thailand Nursing and Midwifery Council, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Suchitra Luengamornlert. The forum focused on addressing the evolving country’s landscape of nursing education in response to various social changes and national management strategies. The key driving factors for changes included the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; shifts in marijuana policies; adjustments in curriculum regulations by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation (MHESI); devolution of primary healthcare responsibilities to local administrative bodies; and the ongoing shortage of nurses and nursing instructors.

In this regard, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Suchitra Luengamornlert emphasized the need for nursing education institutions to adapt and upgrade their approaches to meet these changing circumstances. The following strategies were discussed during the forum: 1) Preparation for receiving the assessment of the quality and the outcomes of teaching and learning; 2) Addressing the shortage of nursing instructors, which requires efforts to increase their numbers while ensuring that their qualifications meet international standards; 3) Establishing specialist training programs in line with national needs; 4) Build a body of nursing knowledge through nursing faculty practice, research and innovation.

The forum highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts between nursing education institutions both within and outside the country, to ensure that nursing instructors are equipped to handle the complexities of the new era. The author hopes that this dissemination will be useful to those who are interested in the future.