Nursing education continues to be a rewarding career option for registered nurses (RNs) looking to maximize their clinical expertise and instruct the next generation of nurses entering the field. As educators, nursing faculty members play a critical role in advancing the profession and influencing the quality of public health in communities around the world.

 

Flexible scheduling, interprofessional collaboration and a stimulating work environment are a few factors that make nursing education an attractive career path. In fact, nurse educators report the highest level of job satisfaction among all nursing roles, yet they constitute only 3.8 percent of the entire nursing workforce(1).

 

Despite these benefits, a severe shortage of nurse educators exists. More than 75,000 qualified applicants to baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs were turned away in 2010, due, in part, to an insufficient number of faculty members(2). Without nurse educators, the industry cannot prepare enough incoming nurses to respond to the growing national shortage. From 2010 to 2020, the number of employed registered nurses will grow by an additional 711,000 registered nurses, and more than 495,000 nurse replacements will be needed, bringing the total number of job openings to 1.2 million(3).

 

To help meet this need, many schools offer educator specialty tracks. Chamberlain College of Nursing, for example, offers a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree program with an Educator specialty track that is designed to prepare nurses for expanding roles in academia. The program can be completed in as few as two years through online courses and local practicum experiences.

 

Upon graduation, nurse educators serve in a variety of capacities, ranging from part-time faculty member to academic leadership roles and have the opportunity to work with students with diverse backgrounds and goals. Having a MSN with an educator specialty also positions graduates to advance to doctoral preparation, leading to higher academic roles. A growing number of nurse educators teach part-time while working in a clinical environment, which can result in additional compensation, allowing them to maintain a high level of clinical proficiency. Meanwhile, they have the opportunity to share their expertise with aspiring nurses – whether it is in nursing informatics, cardiology, family health, oncology, pediatrics or mental health, among many other disciplines.

 

Nurse educators are essential to keeping the profession strong and growing. Now is the time to consider a teaching career and enjoy the professional fulfillment that comes with leaving your mark on the next generation of nurses.