Nurse educators are registered nurses with advanced education who are also teachers. Most work for several, if not many, years before deciding to turn to a career teaching future nurses.
Most nurse educators have extensive clinical experience, and many continue caring for patients after becoming educators.
Nurse educators serve as faculty members in nursing schools and teaching hospitals, sharing their knowledge and skills to prepare the next generation of nurses for effective practice. They:
- Develop lesson plans
- Teach courses
- Evaluate educational programs
- Oversee students’ clinical practice
- Serve as role models
They may teach general courses or focus on areas of specialization, such as geriatric nursing, pediatric nursing or nursing informatics. Nurse educators must stay current with new nursing methods and technologies, which keeps them on the leading edge of clinical practice.
With experience, nurse educators may advance to administrative roles, such as managing nurse education programs, writing or reviewing textbooks and developing continuing education programs for working nurses.
Working Conditions
Nurse educators typically work in academic settings at nursing schools, community colleges and technical schools. Some also work in health care settings as staff development officers or clinical supervisors. They may work a nine-month academic year with summers off to do something else or all year long. Nurse educators typically do not have to work 12-hour shifts or overnight hours, as clinical nurses often do.
Much of a nurse educator’s day is spent in an office or a classroom, preparing for classes, giving lectures, advising students, grading papers, attending faculty meetings, handling administrative work and keeping up with current nursing knowledge. Educators who oversee students in clinical settings may divide their time between campus and a nearby hospital or other health care facility. Many faculty members are also actively engaged in research efforts, which add to the scientific base for nursing practice.
Academic life is demanding and can be filled with unexpected pressures, including multiple, competing demands on the educator’s time. There are often research and publishing requirements to be met. Nurse educators are often expected to participate in professional organizations and attend or speak at conferences. They may serve on peer review and other academic committees or be asked to write grant proposals to bring new funding to the school.
Still, most nurse educators are highly satisfied with their work. They find interaction with students rewarding, and they take pride in the role they play in preparing nurses to care for patients.
Salary Range and Outlook
The average salary for a nurse educator is $75,176, but compensation depends greatly on the amount of clinical and teaching experience a nurse educator has and the location of the job. In addition, educators who work only during the academic year are paid their annual salary over those nine months. Summer teaching is often compensated separately.
Salaries rise for nurse educators who complete a doctorate and for those who assume administrative or leadership responsibilities in the school. Many nurse educators also earn extra pay by caring for patients.
In many areas, an experienced nurse can make more money caring for patients than teaching, but nursing schools are moving to offer more competitive salaries to attract nurses into education. The hours and working conditions are also an important factor in choosing this career.
This career is in extremely high demand, because the United States is experiencing a serious nursing shortage. One of the key reasons for that shortage is the lack of nurse educators to train future nurses.
The U.S. Department of Labor reports that 1 million new and replacement nurses will be needed by 2020. But, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, almost 65,000 qualified applicants were turned away from nursing schools last year. Why? Because nursing schools don’t have enough nurse educators to educate all the students who want to become nurses.
Many government agencies, professional groups and nonprofit organizations have launched campaigns to encourage young people to choose a career in nurse education.
Academic Requirements
Before you can teach nursing, you must become, at minimum, a registered nurse (RN) with a valid license and several years of work experience. Most nurse educators complete a master’s degree in nursing, although a doctorate is required to teach at most universities. You may also want to get a post-master’s certificate or degree in education as well as certification for your area of specialty.
In addition to knowledge and clinical experience, nurse educators must be good teachers. That means you need exceptional communication skills, no fear of public speaking, an easy rapport with people and the ability to clearly explain complex concepts to students.
Learn More About a Career as a Nurse Educator
- Get career information, resources and funding opportunities from Nurses for a Healthier Tomorrow.
Resources
- American Association of Colleges of Nursing
- National League for Nursing
- Association for Nursing Professional Development