Nurse Educators in Critical Demand

Nursing is the nation's largest health carethe career outlook is strong for nurses interested
profession, with more than 2.7 million registeredin teaching careers. Nursing schools nationwide are
nurses nationwide, and nursing students accountstruggling to find new faculty to accommodate
for more than half of all health professionsthe rising interest in nursing among new students.
students in the United States. Applications toCareer Flexibility
attend nursing schools continue to increase nicelyMost nurse educators work in colleges and
but did you know that thousands of students areuniversities that offer associate and baccalaureate
being turned away because of an acute shortageprograms in nursing, and some work as
of Nursing Educators?instructors for LPN courses while educators
A study done by the U.S. Bureau of Healthinvolved in clinical education also work at
Professions indicates that by 2020, the U.S.collaborating health care facilities.
nursing shortage will grow to more than 800,000A Master's degree in nursing is typically required
registered nurses. How can we put a serious dentto become a faculty member at a university but
in stemming this dangerous tide unless nursesRNs with a Bachelors degree in nursing and clinical
take an active role in educating the nurses ofexperience are the minimum basic requirements
tomorrow?for clinical instructors.Nurse educators can work as
Becoming a Nurse Educator is a wonderful careerfull time faculty with all the benefits including
steptenure and retirement, or may choose to work
Registered nurses ARE teachers! RNs teachas part time faculty while still continuing clinical
patients and their families how to manage theiremployment and direct patient care. Nurse
illness or injury, including post-treatment homeeducators play a vital role in preparing and shaping
care needs, diet and exercise programs, andfuture generations of nurses!
self-administration of medication and physicalEarn an NLN accredited Master's in Nursing
therapy. RNs mentor and precept new graduatesEducation Degree While You Work
and new hire staff as well as develop andYou can earn an accredited Master's Degree in
implement ongoing continuing education activitiesNursing with a specialization in education or in
within clinical settings. RNs combine their clinicalhealth education online while maintaining your
expertise and passion for teaching others incurrent job by investing just a few hours of
thousands of ways every time they work.Nursestudy time per week through several schools.
Educators make use of that same clinicalDon't have a BSN Degree?
expertise and passion for teaching to guide andThere's a fully accredited RN to MS in Nursing
shape the future of the nursing profession- onebridge program that allows busy nurses to take
student at a time!the fast track to earning their Masters in Nursing.
Do you want to be doing direct patient care whenStudents earn both degrees in a fraction of the
you're 63 and still waiting to be old enough totime at 1/2 the cost of traditional programs and
retire? I say leave bedside nursing to the youngerdon't have to give up their job to do it.
nurses, give your sore back a rest, and turn yourMake a difference today that will impact the
talents towards building the next generation ofentire profession for years to come. Become a
nurses instead!Nurse Educator!
Some RNs choose to advance their nursingFor Additional Information about NLN Accredited
career by moving into administrative orOnline Nursing Degrees and programs including LPN
management positions, but the responsibilities andto RN/BSN, RN - BSN Degrees, Specialty Nursing
stress of management isn't for everyone. ForCertification in Forensic Nursing, Legal Nurse
those RNs who would enjoy keeping in touch withConsulting, and Advanced Practice Nursing visit
direct patient care and in shaping the future ofMedi-Smart's Online Nursing School Directory.
nursing the best career path to think about isCopyright 2006 Medi-Smart. Permission to reprint
becoming a nurse educator!is granted as long as the article is published in its
Given the growing shortage of nurse educators,entirety with all hyperlinked text intact.