Nurse Educators are in Demand!

With a record number of nearly 50,000 qualified applicants turned away by nursing programs in 2008, the need for nurse educators is dramatically illustrated. The most prominent reason given by nursing institutions for having to turn away qualified applicants is the lack of qualified nurse educators.

Although some LP/VN programs have begun to accept qualified BSN prepared nurses as educators, the preferred minimal education is an MSN. At the university level a PhD is commonly required.

Nurse educators combine their clinical and academic skills with an intense desire to teach. With today’s growing demands for nurse educators, the job security and rewards are almost guaranteed for at least the next decade as they mentor and prepare the next generation of nurses for the workforce.

Nurses are said to be the backbone of the healthcare system. Nurse educators help to mold student nurses into the strong, confident, skilled nurses who will carry this healthcare system into the future.

They will work with high school graduates along side older individuals seeking a second career as nurses. They will help foreign trained nurses adapt to the American system of health care delivery. And they may help nurses advance their education and training to become the specialists, researchers, leaders and even nurse educators themselves.

Nursing is a lifelong learning experience. Nurses who choose to help others to begin or advance their careers are highly skilled, educated and passionate individuals who enjoy helping others achieve their goals to become excellent clinicians. Nurses are all educators as patient education is an important part of the clinician’s experience.

Nurse educators need to have a solid clinical background and possess excellent critical thinking skills. They need to be great communicators (including having strong listening skills). They must also be flexible and creative as well as committed to excel at teaching.

Clinical courses include such specialty areas as acute care, pediatrics, women’s health, oncology, psych/mental health, home health care, cardiology and family health. Nurse educators usually teach clinical courses within their own clinical specialty.

They must also be involved in the planning and development of curriculum, outcomes assessment, and advisement or guidance of their students. They need to be able to assess the learning needs of their students and develop innovate approaches to teaching and assisting students from many backgrounds and cultures to become qualified nurses.

Nurse educators need to have strong knowledge of nursing theories, teaching and learning theories and how to evaluate students. They need to possess the ability to bring the theories to life and teach students how to incorporate these ideas into their clinical skills.

Salaries for nurse educators vary depending on their education, experience, location, specialty, and qualifications. Some work full time and others work part time. They typically work nine months each year and have the option to teach in summer programs. The median salary in 2008 was $71,297 with the majority earning salaries ranging from $84,000 to $115,000.

The downside is that many institutions don’t hire nurse educators full time and the nurses feel they can earn more working as clinicians. But the flexibility of schedules, the intellectual stimulation and fact that their work day is fairly constant is often times a big trade off, as is the tremendous job outlook and security.

The National League for Nursing offers a certificate program for nurse educators to help to establish and maintain a high standard of nursing education. MSN programs specific to preparing nurses to become nurse educators are available. Many BSN to PhD are now available across the U.S. for nurses looking for accelerated programs to become nurse educators. Scholarships and financial aid programs specifically geared for nurse educators are growing in numbers.

By Kathy Quan RN, BSN, PHN, contributing author for RNdegrees.net. Kathy is the author of The Everything, New Nurse Book and the owner/author of TheNursingSite.com.

Become a Nurse Educator - Online
Prepare yourself for a vital role in nurse education, training or staff development through earning your MSN - Nurse Educator degree online. Transform the future of health care - one student at a time: Explore Online Nurse Educator Programs

MSN - Nurse Educator Programs M.S. in Nursing/Nurse Educator RN - MSN/Nurse Educator MSN - Nurse Educator MS in Nursing/Education MSN Healthcare Education

Top Nursing Schools College Network Indiana State University University of Phoenix Walden University South University

University of Phoenix

Campus

As the largest private university in North America, University of Phoenix has more than 200 locations, and is available online in most countries around the world. Whether you're seeking a college degree at an associate's, bachelor's, master's, or doctoral level, we can help you reach your academic goal—and sooner than you might think.

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California College San Diego

Campus

California College San Diego (CCSD) offers degree programs in Medical Specialties, Respiratory Therapy, Healthcare Administration, Business Management and Accounting, Computer Technology and Networking, Computer Programming, and Computer Science. Online programs are offered by our affiliated college, Stevens-Henager College, Salt Lake City/Murray.

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Grand Canyon University

Campus

Don't Miss a Day of Your Future! Grand Canyon University is offering Bachelor and Master degrees through our College of Education, Ken Blanchard College of Business, College of Nursing & Health Sciences, College of Liberal Arts, and College of Entrepreneurship. Classes start soon!

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Phoenix

Walden University

Online

Balance your personal and professional commitments while earning a respected Ph.D., master's degree, or bachelor's degree online at Walden University. Programs offered in management, education, psychology and health and human services.

Programs:

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DeVry University

Campus

DeVry University provides quality education that employers respect, and is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (ncahlc.org), the same organization that accredits many other well-known public and private schools.

Programs:

• Master's-Science In Education

Campus Locations:

Alhambra

American InterContinental University Online

Campus

American InterContinental University Online's flexible curriculum allows you to study when and where it's most convenient. Earn your degree at an accelerated pace from an accredited school that is respected by employers.

Programs:

• Master's (M. Ed.) in Educational Assessment and Evaluation

Campus Locations:

Schaumburg

Northcentral University

Campus

At Northcentral University, we teach individuals, not just classes. Our unique, proven online educational experience is designed to help you achieve your goals using your own style of learning.

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Prescott Valley

West Coast University

Campus

Achieve your educational and professional goals with help from West Coast University. We offer accelerated Health Care Administration degrees designed for working adults like you.

Programs:

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Campus Locations:

Anaheim
Ontario

Career Colleges of America

Campus

Get your career started with Career Colleges of America. We have four campuses in the Los Angeles area offering a wide variety of allied health training programs.

Programs:

• Vocational Nurse

Campus Locations:

South Gate
Gardena
Los Angeles
San Bernardino

Roseman University

Online

The USN accelerated online program offers accelerated nursing education that allows you to earn a BSN in just 14 months. This new program blends the personal convenience of online course study with enriching clinical learning in Henderson, Nevada.

Programs:

• Accelerated BSN

Chamberlain College of Nursing

Campus

Take the first step toward advancing your nursing career. Chamberlain College of Nursing offers a highly respected degree coupled with clinical learning experience in your local area.

Programs:

• Master of Science in Nursing

Campus Locations:

Addison

University of St. Mary

Online

Give your career a boost with University of Saint Mary. We offer online degree programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels to help make your educational and professional goals a reality.

Programs:

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing

The University of Liverpool

Campus

Advance your career and increase your earning potential with a masters or a doctoral degree from the University of Liverpool. Study online in small groups of business professionals.

Programs:

• Doctor of Education (Higher Education)

Campus Locations:

Online

Saint Xavier University

Campus

“Success with Purpose” is the hallmark of a Saint Xavier University education that is grounded in the tradition of liberal arts. SXU offers graduate and post-graduate programs that are recognized and respected by employers and delivered by professional faculty who are experts in their fields. Founded in 1846 by the Sisters of Mercy, SXU is Chicago's oldest Catholic University, and it is recognized as one of the top 40 comprehensive master's universities in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report's America's Best Colleges 2010.

Programs:

• Nurse Educator Certificate
• MSN in Clinical Leadership

Campus Locations:

Chicago

Keiser University

Campus

Keiser University eCampus Online offers degrees in fields that are in high demand and provides job placement assistance to all its students and alumni.

Programs:

• Nursing, MS

Campus Locations:

Fort Lauderdale