Job availability for nurse educators

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I am going to go to Walden University this Jan. for my MSN in nurse education. I just want to make sure that once I graduate I will have no difficulties in finding a teaching job, where Ill be teaching both classroom and clinicals, or just classroom. I also want to make sure that I will be making atleast $45,000 a year. I realize nursing instructors do not make a whole lot of money but where I work now (in the ICU) I only make $21 an hour, so as long as it is more than that I am happy! I also do not plan on teaching and working on the floor at the same time. I want to just teach and one day pursue my doctorates. I ask these questions because after I graduate I plan on starting a family and want a dependable job that is great for raising a family and still having a career. I love teaching so much, but I just want to make sure that there are careers available and not just adjunct jobs or clinical jobs. I want to be apart of a faculty. :D

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I live in Iowa and right now, nursing educator jobs are few and far between. I am done with my MSN in 2 weeks and have been watching the job market for almost one year, and have only seen a handful of fulltime teaching positions.

In my area, it is a paycut to go from bedside nursing to teaching, not a raise. Right now I make about $55,000 as a Med/Surg nurse in a small hospital, the colleges I am looking at start at $40,000/year for a Masters prepared instructor. From reading these boards for years, I would say it is that almost always that people take a cut when getting into education, not a raise.

HTH

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Oh no!! I was prepared to take a pay cut, but to not be able to find a full time teaching job??!! :crying2: Whats the point of spending big time money for a MSN in nurse education if I cant find a job!! Id rather do what I have always wanted to do and teach elementary school, even tho its hard to find a job you dont have to have your masters at first. I dont know I am soo confused because I want to teach but I also want to be gauranteed a job when I graduate. Is it really few and far between??! I always thought there was such a high demand for nursing instructors?! And $40,000?!! That better be with summers off!!! Im sorry if I am over venting but if I am going to work hard for my MSN I atleast want to make $45,000 to $50,000. GRRR!!

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Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

You may have to be willing to relocate, but I've seen lots of jobs posted on the net. Pay varies by region. You may have to start as adjunct faculty, but it is an intro.

I enjoyed just getting the MSN, for what ever that's worth :D

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I guess Im just a little disappointed because I was under the impression that we are in dire needs for nursing instructors! There is so much advertisement here in the state of VA on how nursing instructors are needed, and even a $20000 scholarship towards school if you promise to work as a nursing instructor in the state of VA for 2 years. I have a fiance soon to be husband that I also have to consider when it comes to relocating. I just thought that once I get my MSN in nurse education the doors will open for full time faculty position and having to move to just get a job was out of the question! Also we should atleast get paid descent (I know it will be less than a staff nurse but for all the work you put in it should be atleast in the mid $40000s). I love to teach and I will look forward to getting my MSN once I know there will be jobs waiting for me once Im done.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

You might also want to expand your idea of education to include Staff Development. It is a different specialty from academic teaching ... but most educators can make the adaptation if they give it a try. There are plenty of books, journals, conferences, etc. to help you learn about the specialty of Nursing Professional Development (the specialty that includes staff development, continuing education, etc.)

Nurse educators based in hospitals usually earn more than those in academia -- and being prepared for both types of nursing education opens up more employment possibilities. It's a shame that more Master's programs in nursing education don't include at least one course in Nursing Professional Development (NPD) to give their graduates a broader view of nursing education and all the possible career paths that focus on nursing education.

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You might also want to expand your idea of education to include Staff Development. It is a different specialty from academic teaching ... but most educators can make the adaptation if they give it a try. There are plenty of books, journals, conferences, etc. to help you learn about the specialty of Nursing Professional Development (the specialty that includes staff development, continuing education, etc.)

Nurse educators based in hospitals usually earn more than those in academia -- and being prepared for both types of nursing education opens up more employment possibilities. It's a shame that more Master's programs in nursing education don't include at least one course in Nursing Professional Development (NPD) to give their graduates a broader view of nursing education and all the possible career paths that focus on nursing education.

I agree with you wholeheartedly! I work in a clinic system as an educator (staff development for clinical and non-clinical staff). Taking the NPD cert. exam this Fall-need the summer off from studying:)

If I taught in the local CC or Univ. it would be a large pay cut without the flexibility of time off that I have now.

Just completed my MSN-Education focus. Many classmates were shocked that I wouldn't be applying for (virtually non-existent) CC/Univ. jobs.

otessa

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Specializes in ICU,PACU, M/S, Tele & ED.

It is interesting that we all know that educators are not well paid and we do it because we love it. The reality is we do have to pay our bills just like anyone else. If there is a nursing shortage because of having a nurse educator shortage, it would seem that supply and demand might come into play. I have one more year of the nurse educator MSN program and wish I had done the NP focus instead so I could have kept my options open.

I teach part time clinicals and have a part time staff nurse job too that is flexible enough so I can teach and I have to pick up extra shifts where ever I can in between semesters too. I also have a student loan to think about....and for all this they want a PhD too? I have to say I don't do it for the money, but with a nursing shortage they do tend to pay more for nursing staff to attract them with sign on bonuses, why is this not done for nursing faculty?

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.
I have to say I don't do it for the money, but with a nursing shortage they do tend to pay more for nursing staff to attract them with sign on bonuses, why is this not done for nursing faculty?

Because the people who hire (and pay) nursing instructors are schools, not health care facilities. The nursing shortage is not their problem. They don't see a need to spend more money on nurse educators because the shortage of nurses at the bedside does not affect them. They have plenty of students willing to pay good money to come to their school -- and that's all they care about.

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Specializes in ICU,PACU, M/S, Tele & ED.

Yes I understand that it is the schools who do the pay for educators, and many of them are public universities which are partly funded by our state government and ultimately us, as taxpayers. Why do we allow this? Why don't we lobby to change this? Instead of just settling for what they will allow? I hate to say it , but if more men were in nursing and nursing education , we would all make more money as women will more likely go along with what is offered instead of negotiating. I think there needs to be more partnerships between the health care facilities and academia to correct this nursing shortage before the baby boomers are all seniors.

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Specializes in US Army.

I find it sad that while educators are barely making $50,000, the football coach at the same university is making millions... What's wrong with this picture?

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Specializes in ICU,PACU, M/S, Tele & ED.

Exactly! We certainly don't have a shortage of sports to watch....I think that is what we need to do to convince them!The way to cure this shortage is to pay more.

I know we don't go into nursing just for the money either but the pay has increased over the years and it is better than it used to be. We are professionals and the business person who is in demand knows how to negotiate a contract for higher wages and benefits.

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