How to Become a Nurse Educator

How to Become a Nurse Educator

The Basics on How to Become a Nurse Educator

Are you considering extending your experience as a Nurse and researching how to become a Nurse Educator? As one of the many specialty options available for an APRN, Nurse Educators are responsible for teaching nursing students patient care in classroom and clinical units. They oversee students’ clinical and laboratory work, plan course content, and deliver lectures. They also evaluate students’ assignments and possibly may conduct research in their field.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, if you are going to teach at a 4-year institution, then it is likely you will need either a master’s degree (you can find an MSN with no GRE requirements) or a Ph.D. According to O*NET, 50% of nursing instructors have at least a master’s degree, while 36% have a doctoral degree.

A Nurse Educator's Salary Potential

  • Lowest 10th%
    $41,130
  • Median
    $74,600
  • Highest 90th%
    $133,460

 

States with the Highest Employment Levels

STATES2019 ANNUAL MEAN WAGENUMBER OF JOBS
New York$97,7505,030
Texas$66,1904,310
California$101,9303,970
Pennsylvania$81,7603,420
Ohio$79,3603,410
 
 

How Do Your Skills Stack Up?

Day to day life of a Nurse Educator

As reported by O*NET, these types of tasks are conducted every day or are important in this role – would you feel comfortable performing these tasks as part of the day to day life of a Nursing Instructor?

What Will You Learn with a Master of Science in Nursing – Nursing Education Degree?

Course work for a master of science in nursing education typically covers classes such as:

  • Foundations of Nursing Education
  • Policy, Politics & Global Health Trends
  • Professional Presence & Influence
  • Contemporary Pharmacotherapeutics
  • Organizational Leadership & Team Development

Masters of science in nursing education degrees help prepare graduates to pursue careers designing, implementing, and leading nursing programs. Course work is likely to cover competencies such as facilitating learning in the 21st century; translational research for practice and populations; advanced information management and the application of technology; and nursing education field experience. In addition, many programs require that students complete a capstone project that addresses a key issue in nursing education and demonstrates their competency in the field.

Did You Know?

According to O*NET, here are a few interesting pieces of information:

  • 42% responded that this job offers a lot of freedom to make decisions - without supervision.
  • 66% said that this job requires public speaking, once a week or more but not every day.
  • 75% said it was extremely important to be exact or accurate when performing this job.
  • 51% responded that they have to deal with conflict situations once a week or more but not every day.

FAQs About How to Become a Nurse Educator

What is the average Nurse Educator salary?

What does the job outlook look like for a Nurse Educator?

What job titles are similar to or the same as a Nurse Educator?

What skills do Nursing Instructors Possess?

What types of personalities are a good fit for becoming a Nurse Educator?

 

Job information sourced from O*NET