Holding Steady: Managing Your Emotions When Teaching Gets Tough

Every educator has been there. The tech fails. Students are restless. A clinical day unravels. In those moments, students aren’t just watching what you do, they’re watching how you are.

That’s emotional regulation in action. It’s not about pretending you’re calm. It’s about using strategies to bring yourself back to steady so you can lead the room.

This week, I share why faculty regulation matters, what it looks like in practice, and one quick reset you can use anytime things start sliding off track. It will feel awkward at first, but that’s exactly how students know it’s real.

Mirror First: Building Your Own Emotional Self-Awareness as a Nurse Educator

Students aren’t the only ones who need emotional self-awareness. Faculty do too.

The truth is, how we show up – our tone, our stress, even the micro-expressions on our face – sets the emotional climate for the room. Students pick up on it instantly. If we’re distracted, anxious, or frustrated, they’ll feel it, even if we never say a word.

This week, I’m talking about why faculty self-awareness matters, what it looks like in practice, and one simple habit you can build into your teaching routine. Yes, it feels awkward at first. But repetition turns it into one of the most valuable teaching tools you have.