Nurse Educator Career Overview

Nurse educators provide education and training for nurses at all levels, including students in their first year of nursing school all the way to experienced nurses seeking professional development. They combine clinical expertise and experience to serve as guides and mentors to other providers.

Nurse educators are experts in evidence-based practices and committed to continuous research, staying up-to-date on the latest ideas and developments in healthcare and the practice of nursing. They are leaders who direct teams, provide guidance, and exemplify best practices in nursing.

When you hear the word “educator,” you automatically think of a school or classroom setting, but colleges and universities are just one place where nurse educators work. Educators can be found in nearly every healthcare setting. Hospitals, psychiatric and rehabilitation facilities, public health centers, and hospice care are also common work settings for nurse educators.

Although there are many opportunities for nurse educators, here are some specific responsibilities you might have in more common settings.

Becoming a nurse educator is not right for everyone. Although many people thrive in roles providing education and training for new nurses, others would rather provide bedside care. As you explore your options, consider the following pros and cons and whether it is the right choice for you.

Nurse educators earn higher-than-average salaries; those working in major metropolitan medical centers and hospitals are the highest paid with average annual salaries of $119,050. The Miami-Ft. Lauderdale metro region is the top-paying metro area for nurse educators with average salaries more than $20,000 higher than the next highest-paying area in Boston-Cambridge-Nashua.

Colleges and universities, including junior or community colleges, are the lowest paying employers for nurse educators. Nurses teaching at junior colleges earn an average of $75,190 annually, whereas colleges and universities pay slightly better with an average salary of $84,320. Note that these salary figures are for full-time employment; many nurse educators work part time as instructors or adjunct faculty and are paid per course or per credit.

The time required to become a nurse educator varies depending on your current degree. Nurse educators must have an MSN, which can be earned in as few as two years if you have a BSN. For RNs without a BSN, earning a master’s degree can take up to four years or longer.

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing reports that nurse educators are in demand to the point where prospective nursing students are being turned away because there are not enough instructors. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a higher-than-average increase in demand as well; between 2019 and 2029, demand is projected to increase by 9% for all postsecondary educators.

Although earning a DNP is not a current requirement for a nurse educator, the National League for Nursing supports doctoral preparation for nurse educators. The NLN argues that educators with a DNP are well positioned to advance nursing education and respond to the changing healthcare landscape and demands on nurses. Also, while a doctoral degree is not a requirement to teach at the undergraduate level, it is most often required to teach at the master’s level or above, and in many academic institutions, to become a tenured professor or an administrative leader within a nursing school.

Nurses with the appropriate credentials, including an MSN and at least two years of clinical experience, can apply to teach as adjunct faculty in nursing programs, serve as guest lecturers, or lead clinical groups in a hospital setting. Many nurse educators begin their careers by teaching part time to determine whether it is a good fit before seeking certification and full-time employment. Check with your state’s Board of Nursing about nurse educator requirements, especially in the academic setting.