Tips for How to Give and Receive Feedback in Nursing Education

In nursing education, feedback serves to help students and educators to identify what is working well, along with areas for improvement. In this post, we will explore how meaningful feedback contributes to stronger relationships, enhanced teamwork, and improved outcomes, and review key aspects of giving and receiving feedback effectively.

Feedback is crucial for growth. It is helpful for educators to support nursing students to identify their own strengths and create space for them to focus on areas needing improvement. When educators work with students in supportive ways, it encourages them to take ownership of their learning. By providing specific suggestions for improvement during the learning period, often through discussion and activities, the educator fosters a system of continuous growth. Formative and summative assessments work jointly to provide a comprehensive look at learning and skills. Likewise, continuous improvement is witnessed in the educator as well, as student learning and teaching practices evolve. Fortunately, we have teams where educators can work together to give and receive feedback and support one another to share perspectives and act on feedback. Students can do this, too.

Feedback comes in many forms. We understand that the healthcare environment is constantly evolving, and we embrace this change as an opportunity to further elevate our teaching and the value we can bring to our students. The dedication, patience, and effort put into making class and clinical engaging and enjoyable makes a real difference. Sometimes positive feedback comes around from students in the moment, while other times it may be read as survey comments afterwards. Still, for some, the clear explanations, engaging lessons, or willingness to help may not be outwardly highlighted but the impact felt and carried on, far more forward than one can tell. Nevertheless, dedication and passion for nursing education is encouraging! Each day is a new opportunity to take the time to plan engaging material that includes all students, to acknowledge them and offer to meet and talk further, and to find concepts that are difficult to understand and help them to click. When we care, we foster an environment that welcomes others to care, too.

Feedback is a gift. It carries with it the potential for positive development. When feedback is received constructively, it can be used as a valuable tool for personal and professional growth. The process of giving and receiving feedback builds stronger relationships, improves clarity and understanding, and resolves problems with increased productivity. Even when critical, if delivered well, feedback can be a catalyst for learning and broadening individual and collective progress. The key, as with many things, is to employ a balanced approach. Providing context, specific examples, and motivation towards goals by highlighting success as well as delivering constructive criticism, focuses on the behavior and not the person. Feedback is often given from the place that we all have something to gain. Intention matters. Keeping it honest, considerate, and productive keeps dialogue open.

Here’s a quick look at key tips for giving feedback:

• Provide specific examples

• Focus on behaviors, not people

• Include context

• Consider timing and aim to be prompt

• Offer support with actionable suggestions

• Maintain respectful tone

• Encourage reciprocal dialogue

• Follow up

And some helpful suggestions for receiving feedback:

• Maintain active listening

• Seek clarification to ensure you understand correctly

• Observe responses

• Consider consequences

• Process new information and reflect on its value

• Avoid defensiveness

• Follow up

Feedback opens doors. Notice, both giving and receiving feedback includes following up. Feedback is an opportunity for improvement, not personal attack. When we work together— educator-to-educator, student-to-student, educator-to-student—approaching feedback with a willingness to learn and grow, a willingness to ask for help, without hesitation, we form bonds with understanding and enthusiasm. All of this advances our thinking and adds depth to our experiences. The growth will be worth the effort.