Clinical Instructor

Specialties Educators

Published

hello everyone!

i am almost finished with my asn-- 3 quarters to go. i've been evaluating a lot in my life lately; what i really want to do, what is managable with my family situation, etc. i've been communicating with uofp about their rn to bsn program immediately after i graduate. my goal is to have my bsn completed 18 months after i graduate from the asn program.

i plan on working at children's when i graduate. when i complete my bsn, i'd like to become a part-time clinical instructor, i love teaching. i tutor many subjects, first year nursing, careplans, a & p, dosage and calculations; pretty much whatever the student resource center asks me to do. i didn't think teaching would ever be my forte', but the more i do it, the more i enjoy it. i feel that i'm a natural leader and a very fair person.

is there a need for clinical instructors? do you need a msn to teach, or could i get away with teaching with a bsn? when i envision this, i see myself at a community college teaching asn/adn students.

would you change your path? are you happy being a clinical instructor?

thanks so much for any insight.

always,

dani

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

Hi Dani. Good luck to you. (There are cheaper schools that UoP that are NLN approved, but that's off topic).

Many BSN-prepared nurses, with experience can teach clinical groups. Here in St. Petersburg, you need a minimum of a Masters to teach within a classroom/online setting, but the clinical instructors out in the field can be BSNs with experience.

Yes, absolutely there is a need for Nursing instructors. You won't find a bit of trouble getting a job.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

tweety,

thanks so much for your quick response! i know i'm thinking about this way before i should, but i think there is so much room for opportunities out there for me. i think i'll always want to do patient care (especially at children's) but i know i want to teach too.

i need to research more rn to bsn programs out there. everyone i've talked to raves about uofp, but i will definitely look into more options.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

Because you are interested in teaching, you should probably at least investigate programs that take you from and ADN to an MSN. While there are some opportunities for people to teach with only a BSN, the general trend is for the requirements for instructors to go up. You'll have a lot more opportunities (and a higher income) if you get your MSN.

The programs that take you from ADN to MSN are longer than the BSN completion programs -- but they are shorter than getting the BSN and then going back to school yet again for an MSN later.

You also might want to consider staff development roles -- people who do education to practicing staff nurses. Those roles sometimes pay better than entry-level faculty jobs and can be a good way to combine clinical practice and education.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I agree with llg (as usual!) -- while you would probably be able to get clinical instructor positions at community colleges with (just) a BSN, you will always be on the lowest rung of the ladder in nursing education without an advanced degree (or more).

Also, most schools require at least 2 years of clinical experience (some require more than that) before they will consider you for teaching positions, and, the more clnical experience, the better. Think about it from your own perspective, now, as a nursing student -- do you want to have clinical instructors who are just a step or two "ahead" of you, beginners themselves, or do you want/expect your school to provide you with instructors who are clinical experts?

I'm not saying this to discourage you at all -- just food for thought. There is always need for nursing faculty, at all levels. Good luck with your studies and your career!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Because you are interested in teaching, you should probably at least investigate programs that take you from and ADN to an MSN. While there are some opportunities for people to teach with only a BSN, the general trend is for the requirements for instructors to go up. You'll have a lot more opportunities (and a higher income) if you get your MSN.

I disagree

at Grand Canyon Univ: MSN/PhD starting salary for FT classroom instructor is around 55,000 (2 years ago)...That's ~ 26/hour...You have to develop your curriculum, make power points, etc...

at same univ, as a clinical instructor, I made 35/hour...

at the CC in town, clin instructors make 36/hour...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

Depends on your state's requirements (usually mandated by the BON or Higher Education Board or some such). In Texas the classroom instructors for an ADN program must have MSN degrees or higher. The clinical instructor must be MSN with no more than 10 students. They can go up to 15 students if a BSN is assisting the MSN. A BSN with 18 hours towards MSN can take 10 students. At least, I believe these rules are still the same. Anyway, check with the BON in your state.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.
I disagree

at Grand Canyon Univ: MSN/PhD starting salary for FT classroom instructor is around 55,000 (2 years ago)...That's ~ 26/hour...You have to develop your curriculum, make power points, etc...

at same univ, as a clinical instructor, I made 35/hour...

at the CC in town, clin instructors make 36/hour...

There are always going to be particular cases that are exceptions to the rule. Your case might be one of them. But in general ... the more education you have, the more opportunities you will have for teaching and the higher your compensation will be. The national statistics on faculty salaries show that as the predominant trend.

Also, you have to consider the particulars on how the compensation package is structured. For example, the full time classroom instructor you cited above might be getting benefits that bring the total compensation package above the CC clinical instructor who is paid by the hour. Those benefits might include things like health insurance, retirement package, research support, secretarial support, money for conference attendance and/or continuing education, etc. Full time university faculty often have generous benefit packages that adjunct instructors do not have.

Also, you have to consider how many hours the clinical instructor works on grading, meetings, planning, etc. that are "off the clock" and not paid. Most clinical instructors I know put in a lot of time that is not included in the hourly pay. That reduces the amount they earn "per hour of actual work."

Again ... I don't know the specifics of your situation and you may have been better compensated as a clinical instructor at a community college in your town that local university faculty. But for most people, that is not the case in the long run. Most of the time, the full time faculty members on the tenure track have the best overall compensation packages -- particularly as they climb the career ladder in academia and become Associate and Full Professors.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment