MSN or PhD to teach nursing?

[Sunflower3]

Hello Nurse Educators,

I am soon to graduate with my MSN-Nursing Education, and am wondering if I need a PhD to teach nursing? My goal is to teach at the university level/online, although I am open to teaching any level of nursing, to get my foot in the door. My specialty is adult Med/Surg.

So, do any of you have or plan to get a PhD in nursing or education?

Thanks in advance,

Sunflower3

[MissJulie]

I am also debating on whether to get a MSN to teach nursing. Please does anyone have an answer concerning if I obtain a MSN degree to teach or am I wasting my time and will have to go back in a couple of years to get another degree to continue to teach?

slb:confused:

At the school I currently attend (an ADN program), our instructors either have their BSN or are working on their MSN (the college requires atleast a masters for any program). However, there is one exception, our lab instructor, she is currently working on her BSN, but, then again, she's showing us how to do skills on manequins not the difference between Hypokalemia and Hypernatremia, so that may be the difference!

May I offer a suggestion as to what level of education you will need to teach nursing? The easiest way may be to ccontact some instructors at facilities you would like to apply to, and ask them what level of education they have, or are required to have.

Hope it helps :)

[Tammie2010]

Sandra,

If you want to be full-time Nursing Faculty, I highly recommend that you get your MSN. Accrediting organizations require that a certain percentage of nursing faculty have to be prepared at the master's level. I taught for a local community college as a clinical instructor and I had my BSN. Most will not hire you full-time unless you have your master's degree. If you want to teach full-time at a University, a PhD is usually preferred. Unfortunately, many nursing faculty positions lack in monetary substance for the education that is required. That being said, I have my MSN and currently work as a full-time nursing instructor. I absolutely love my job. I love to educate and I love nursing. So, it was definitely worth it to me. On another note, I am contemplating going back to school for my PhD. Something that I never thought I would say......