Meet a Nurse Educator

Nurse educators help improve the nursing shortage because they educate and mentor nurses. We talked to a nurse educator who teaches students and mentors faculty about her role in educating nurses, why she chose this career, and how factors like the pandemic affects her role.

It all started with a great leader. My very first nurse manager was a fantastic role model of exemplary leadership. She recognized my potential, encouraged me to be a nurse leader, mentored me along the way, and inspired me to explore potential leadership opportunities.

The positive impact these leaders had on my personal and professional growth inspired me to dedicate myself to the growth and development of other nurses, nurse leaders, and nurse faculty in return.

Prior to entering academia full time, I taught a medical-surgical clinical course as a part-time faculty member. This was a really great way to test the waters of academia before making a full-time commitment to being an educator. My first semester as a full-time educator, I taught a medical-surgical clinical course and a leadership course in the RN-to-BSN program. These courses allowed me to apply my clinical expertise and leadership experiences, making for an easier transition from practice to academia.

I chose nursing leadership as my career path because I wanted to make a widespread impact on the profession of nursing. While nurse leaders may or may not be directly involved in direct patient care, their indirect impact on patient care is significant.

Nurse leaders are positioned to influence decisions and practice changes related to nurse staffing, safety and quality, strategic planning of the organization, delivery of care, and much more. Not only are they able to help transform the delivery of healthcare, the nurse leader is also positioned to develop the knowledge and skills of other nurses, which in turn may be used to further improve quality, safety, and the overall delivery of care.

COVID-19 has certainly impacted many facets of nursing education. As COVID-19 numbers trended upwards in March 2020, our face-to-face classes were moved online. This rapid transition to remote learning was just the beginning.

Given we were navigating uncharted waters and many faculty had never taught online before this point, it has certainly been a stressful time for nurse educators, as the learning curve for faculty was high and students depend on us to deliver seamless, high-quality education to effectively prepare them for graduation.

Although academia has experienced a multitude of challenges as a result of COVID-19, we have also experienced some benefits as well. For example, it has enhanced flexibility, led to creative and innovative solutions, enhanced use of technology, encouraged us to consider what we do and how we do it, and expanded our simulated learning experiences. Not to mention, faculty are now equipped with the tools to teach online, and academia is taking a more proactive approach in preparing should a situation like this occur again in the future.

I find the most rewarding part of being a nurse educator is being able to positively impact the current and future practice of nursing through the education I provide to my students. Being able to share the knowledge I’ve gained throughout my education and practice with my students provides me joy … recognizing the widespread impact of their education as they go on to disseminate their learnings into practice, provides me with the gratification that I am making a difference in nursing.

As for being a leader within an academic setting, helping faculty to succeed and creating positive change are the most rewarding parts of my role. I am able to positively influence aspects of the school of nursing’s curriculum, operations, policies and procedures, and culture so we may create an environment where innovation is welcomed, student success is the focus, faculty are supported, and excitement and kindness thrive.

Nurse educators prepare nursing students to practice nursing with up-to-date knowledge of the nursing profession and ethical teaching practices. The daily responsibilities of nurse educators vary depending on where they work and whether they serve in leadership.

Many nurse educators teach classes specific to the nursing specialty they practiced or may continue to practice. Nurse educators who pursue leadership roles may hire, train, and evaluate other nurse educators.

Nurse educators may provide continuing education for practicing nurses, teach clinicals, and lecture classes at a college or university. Nurse educators who work for colleges and universities can teach nursing classes at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral level depending on what level of education they hold.

Some of the responsibilities and skills for nurse educators include:

If you want to become a nurse educator, you’ll need to earn at least a master of science in nursing (MSN), hold a registered nurse (RN) license, and have two years of experience as an RN. You should consider optional certifications such as certified professional in healthcare quality, certified nurse educator, and other certifications relevant to your specialty area.

According to Payscale data from September 2022, nurse educators make an average of $79,120 annually. Nurse educator salaries can range from $59,000-$108,000 depending on their experience, skills, and area of specialization.

Nurse educators may earn more if they have more than 10 years of experience. Nurse educators who are skilled in training program development, operating room education, clinical education, and hospital education may also earn higher-than-average pay.

Employers may pay more money than average for nurses with knowledge and nursing experience in: