Nurse Educator student needing suggestions

[DebbieFNP]

As a current MSN Nurse Educator student, and a practicing FNP, I am wondering what would be the best focus during my educational process; to focus on staff development and education or patient education. As a nurse practitioner, patient education is my main goal, but I will be precepting with a staff developer next term. Since I will need to prepare for my comprehensive finals I would like to integrate my professional goals with my new educational focus of educator. Any suggestions?

[woundnurse]

Hi Debbie, I know I am going to focus primarily on staff education... In my field (wound care) it is where I now see the need.

Cory

[llg, PhD, RN]

WOW! Great question. Hmmm.....

What type of work do you want to be doing in the next 5-10 years? There is a great shortage of qualified staff educators and school faculty that is predicted to get much worse over the next few years. Predictions are that salaries will go up, etc. accordingly. If a job in staff development or nursing school education interests you, then it would be a good choice to pick the staff development route.

However, if you are committed to a direct patient care, Nurse Practitioner type role, then what benefit would you receive from the staff development focus? Do you see yourself focusing on patient education in the future?

I usually recommend that people "go where their heart is" because predicting job opportunities and specific circumstances of the future is not very accurate -- and no one wants a job they don't really like. So ... what does your heart say that you really want to do with that Master's Degree?

llg