concerned soon to be educator

nurse2033, MSN, RN · Nov 18, 2013

Well, it is my opinion that one the most important things that nursing instructors bring is real-world experience to the classroom. Also, the minute you stop bedside practice, the minute you start to become out of date. Obviously you can slide a few years, but how will you keep up on the daily changes to nursing practice? This is a huge challenge. There could come a time when you haven't touched a patient in 25 years. Honestly that is not the nursing instructor that I would want.

I have made a pact to myself that I will work at the bedside as long as physically possible. I teach part time which is perfect for me. I would worry about losing touch with nursing roots, (like most of my managers have). I don't think you are in the wrong profession, but why did you want to become a nurse in the first place? Hopefully it was to take care of the sick and injured. You should find a part time job that works for you, especially if you don't need the income (assuming you have a teaching job). Good luck.

OCRN3 · Nov 18, 2013

I also teach and work bedside periderm. I think you need the bedside to be an instructor. I would not dismiss your experience but you do need to be up to date. If you are doing clinicals try to help hands on to keep your skills.

lepew · Nov 20, 2013

I have been teaching for 8 plus years. I do not work in the hospital as my full time teaching gig keeps me pretty busy. I think that I stay up to date. I do not think you have to work at the bedside to keep your skills up. I also get in and help my students at the bedside. I work closely with the bedside nurses and my students. I keep up with current trends, skills etc. I do more than the required contact hours. I believe you can stay as current as you want. Yes it takes some effort on my part - but it's worth it. Teaching is my calling. I wouldn't give it up. So I disagree that an instructor HAS to work at the bedside too. But again - I put forth the effort to keep current.

I have worked with some faculty who have not kept current. They rely on their experiences from many years ago. That is not good. They are not giving their students what is needed.

OCRN3 · Nov 20, 2013

Lepew, I'm having such a hard time letting go of bedside. I have a love hate relationship with it. I really want to let it go but sometimes I can't bring myself to do it. When i think about giving up teaching, I don't want to either. Knowing that there are thing I can do besides bedside gives me some relief because I wasn't sure it could be done.

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elkpark · Nov 20, 2013

Nursing programs need community health instructors, too, esp. BSN programs. Not everyone in a program is teaching med-surg clinical. :) What is important, though, IMO, is that you be competent and experienced at whatever you're teaching. Students will figure out pretty darned quick if that's not the case.

Gotta caution you, though, that you may not be a v. competitive candidate for teaching positions with only three years experience. Most nursing programs require a minimum of two years clinical experience to be eligible for consideration, and most applicants (in my experience) have a lot more experience than the minimum.

Best wishes for your journey!

lepew · Nov 21, 2013

CCRN I had a hard time letting go at first too. The first 2 years I taught full time I still work part time at the bedside too. I just felt stretched too thin. As my teaching career progressed, I had to give a certain percentage of my time to community service and college service- committees,etc., as this is a college requirement. I just couldn't keep it all up. I teach 12 months so I am teaching year round so my situation is different. If I only taught fall and summer I would work at the bedside in the summer. I think- no matter what you decided to do- that you will do what you feel you must do. I say go with your gut feeling. I still get to be in the hospital setting by going to clinicals.