Clinical instructor with a BSN?

[Tina, RN]

Hello everyone! I'd like to pick your brains a bit. :)

I have a BSN, and have always been interested in teaching. A local community college is offering a clinical nurse adjunct instructor training program. It is a 48 hour long course, with half the hours done in lecture and the other half in clinical. It sounds very interesting. I thought it might be a good way to determine if I'd ever want to pursue a master's degree in order to teach.

Anyway, I was wondering whether you think that doing this course would open any doors for me, in terms of teaching. It seems like a MSN is required most of the time, but are BSN RNs ever hired as clinical instructors? I assume it would help if I ever wanted to teach in an LPN program or a CNA program? The class costs about $1000. I'd kind of like to know whether it would be "worthwhile", you know? For my own professional growth and curiosity, it definitely would. But, as far as jobs, I'm wondering...

Any thoughts? Thanks!

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

I taught BSN clinicals when I only had my BSN, but I had to be working on my MSN. As a BSN, though, you could more easily teach CNA, LPN, or ASN clinicals.

I think the course you mention could help you understand how to teach more than you understand it now, and would help you decide what to do with your future. However, $1000 is alot of money. Clinical instructors don't earn much. $1000 could be more than half of what you'd earn for one adjunct course you'd teach. Would your current employer pay for the course for you? I don't think the course would open any doors for you for jobs, unless at that community college. It would be more of a personal learning thing, I think.

[Tina, RN]

Thanks, Whispera!

[turnforthenurse, MSN, NP]

I think it just depends. I have had a few clinical instructors with their BSN and they weren't working on their MSN. You have to have a minimum of a BSN to teach clinical and a minimum of a MSN to teach lectures.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

may depend on state rules. Texas requires at least a degree higher than what you are teaching, except PhD's can teach in doctoral level. I was working as clinical instructor as BSN in ADN program but I was within a certain number of hours from graduating with MSN and the school was able to get a waiver for me.

[jmqphd]

Hard and fast. In our state you cannot be on faculty without a Masters degree. Additionally, a certain percentage of faculty at accredited schools must have MSN's (not education degrees). There are some extremely rural communities in our state that have exemptions in which BSN faculty can be employed as clinical faculty if they are working on their MSN's.

[organichombre, ADN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN]

Tina,

I think you already know that you want to teach, and an MSN will allow you to do that. The class would be a confirmation of that.

Good Luck!