RN to Nurse Educator

Nurses Career Support

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hey all! I am graduating in a few months, and already thinking about continuing my education! I know I will start on my Bachelor's soon....likely in January 07. I want to have a nice transition into nursing before I start with the studying again.

Ultimately, I think I want to teach nursing. I am already close to 40, and I want to have a plan for when I am ready to give up the long shifts at the bedside, but not ready to give up nursing.

My instructor told us that in order to teach, you need to have one degree higher than the level you are teaching. So I guess I will need my Master's degree to teach ADN nursing.

Has anyone out there done this? Do you have a Master's in NURSING or in EDUCATION? I don't really feel the need to be an NP, but is that part of obtaining a Masters? I should add that I don't wish to teach clinical nursing, just theory.

I am thinking to give myself 10 years to complete it..no rush. But I want to do it right.

I welcome any comments...ideas, experiences etc etc.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I would definitely choose a masters degree in nursing if you even remotely think you will be doing teaching later. At least in IL, you must have a masters degree in the subject you are teaching, ie nursing. I have a friend who is a unit educator with her masters in education and she can't teach nursing. It is wonderful that you are considering your future now. You are right, continuing to do 12 hour bedside shifts into your 60's and beyond is difficult.

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I would definitely choose a masters degree in nursing if you even remotely think you will be doing teaching later. At least in IL, you must have a masters degree in the subject you are teaching, ie nursing. I have a friend who is a unit educator with her masters in education and she can't teach nursing. It is wonderful that you are considering your future now. You are right, continuing to do 12 hour bedside shifts into your 60's and beyond is difficult.

Oh I cant hardly imagine 12 hour shifts now lol!

Your sig says you have an MSN. Does that make you an NP, or qualify you to be one? Or does the NP aspect require more training? I ask because at this point in the game, I don't want to be an NP. Much as I'd probably enjoy it, I just don't want to be pursuing it late in life.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Yes, I have an MSN and yes, I do 12 hour shifts as a staff nurse in a level one trauma center (whole nother story about why I changed jobs...) Anyway, my MSN has a management and leadership concentration. I am currently finishing up an adult health clinical nurse specialist which is an APN very similiar to NP. I want the autonomy and greater responsibility along with the varied options. I was not interested in teaching except for clinicals. I'm just not the "wear dress clothes and stand at a chalkboard" kinda gal.

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