I have a bit of a dilemma here ....

Specialties Educators

Published

Specializes in ER, ICU, Education.

Hi all,

Well I just recently started a in hospital education role in Staff Development. However,

the new DON has decided to merge the responsibilities of staff development (nursing orientation) and nurse liaison (project management of the computerized charting system ie Cerner).

Well I knew this going in and thought ok I'll give it a chance, as I didn't have any other prospects at the time. Well I can already see that it will be way more NL duties and less education - one of the existing educators is not going to want to give up the education end of it. The reason I applied for this job months ago was because it was supposed to be focused on education. Oh by the way did I mention that the new DON made it a requirement that I will have to finish my MSN within 3 years.

I have applied to two MSN programs with an education focus to begin in January.

So this week I see that the local Comm college has re worked their advertisement for the full time faculty position and I now qualify. They

will accept a BSN with the agreement of finishing the MSN within 3 years.

See the trend here ... our area has a shortage of MSN prepared nurses.

It's a decent program and in fact I had recently been approved to teach clinicals but with my new position I couldn't do it. The FT position would pay a little less then I get now - but I suspect with the state benefits it would be equal (free insurance and more paid days off).

My goal has been to eventually land a full time teaching job either in or out of the hospital. My question is should I pursue it? Or should I wait since I just started this new position at the hospital?

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Specializes in Critical Care/Teaching.

Janet,

I was in your exact situation and I chose to do the clinicals!! I have mot regretted it since!! However, it was a tough a position to make. Here is what my pros and cons list looked liked...

Staff Development:

Pros:

Full-time position

Start in staff development education

Monday-Friday: No Weekends :0)

Cons:

Monday-Friday: No time to teach or staff nurse if I wanted too!!

Low pay than all my other jobs!!

And, realistic it is not what I saw myself doing for the long term!!

Clinical Instructor:

Pros:

Foot in the door for my long term dream!!

Experience: which will come in handy when I am applying for my full-time teaching job

More flexible hours!!

More pay per hour

Cons:

Not a full time job: YET

I hope this helped you out!!

Brandie

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Hi Janet,

Nursebrandie's pro and con list is pretty much in line with my own. I started out in staff education, but was pulled in so many different directions (monthy CPR, new hire orientation, new hire tours, etc.) I rarely spent any time on my assigned unit to actually educate. I found the situation more than frustrating. I am now a clinical instructor and so far, very good. I wish you luck with this decision.

(And now, as a newbie to this site, I am going to attempt a little smiley thingie: :specs:)

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

JCole,

Run!! Flee!! Take the academic job! I have a loooong history of experience with IT implementations & they are soul-destroying. Eventually, everything gets dumped on education as IT folks realize that they are in way over their heads. You can age rapidly due to the pummeling you get from both resistant nurses who don't want to use the system, managers who firmly believe it's YOUR job to "motivate" their staffs . . . . and so on.

It is an age-old game.... give the yukky job to the new educator. You'll end up being too stressed to cope with grad school.

Don't feel guilty - if you want to be an educator, take the academic position. They will have a vested interest in making sure you get your MSN - and you'll be surrounded with role models and mentors for your new role. Go for it!

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

I really like my Education job in the hospital and know all the local nursing faculty, since I have to schedule their clinical rotations and sit on their advisory boards. I wanted FT pay and get paid more than local faculty (MSN) but less than some nurses in our facility. But I do not teach CPR or any "alphabet" class like that. I coordinate staff nurses and techs to do that. They like the money and I have time for other things.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Education.
JCole,

Run!! Flee!! Take the academic job! I have a loooong history of experience with IT implementations & they are soul-destroying. Eventually, everything gets dumped on education as IT folks realize that they are in way over their heads. You can age rapidly due to the pummeling you get from both resistant nurses who don't want to use the system, managers who firmly believe it's YOUR job to "motivate" their staffs . . . . and so on.

It is an age-old game.... give the yukky job to the new educator. You'll end up being too stressed to cope with grad school.

Don't feel guilty - if you want to be an educator, take the academic position. They will have a vested interest in making sure you get your MSN - and you'll be surrounded with role models and mentors for your new role. Go for it!

Thanks for the laugh and encouragement!! :chuckle

Yes last week was our non nursing orientation week and I was about to shoot myself with boredom - though I am sure that once I am off orientation that will change. Like I said I am supposed to be on orientation but it's like I am a 5th wheel - we don't have a manager and no one really knows or wants to orient me. :banghead:

I don't know why they hired another person. In the mean time I am applying for the teaching position.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Education.
I really like my Education job in the hospital and know all the local nursing faculty, since I have to schedule their clinical rotations and sit on their advisory boards. I wanted FT pay and get paid more than local faculty (MSN) but less than some nurses in our facility. But I do not teach CPR or any "alphabet" class like that. I coordinate staff nurses and techs to do that. They like the money and I have time for other things.

The thing is I like teaching! I volunteer at Red Cross so I can teach CPR.

I love the interaction. :yeah:

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Education.

My Pro - Con List

Staff Development

Pros

Slightly better pay

M-F hours - though occasionally >40 with deadlines

Cons

No patient exposure

I don't see myself there long term - don't enjoy the work (except for orientation).

Exposure to high stress - things such as JACHO and CMS inspections - our dept since we are salaried are called on to assist during inspections.

Nursing Educator (full time, 12 month position)

Pros

Focus is on education, which I really enjoy

Working w/students and patients

Teaching experience - esp important if I later go for a university job

Cons

Less pay & perhaps more hours (at least in the beginning) compared to hospital.

Less regular hours - they have day and evening rotations.

No tuition reimbrusement - from the Comm College (but can apply for state grants/scholarships, etc)

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