So, what's your background?

Specialties Educators

Published

Specializes in Med surg, cardiac, case management.

Meaning, what did you do before going into education?

Also, I'm curious where you work...as staff educators? Clinical instructors? NS faculty?

I'm an MSN student (direct entry) who, to the horror of some of my classmates and instructors, wants to go into education.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Joe,

YOU GO GUY!!! :yeah:We desperately need more qualified nurse educators - who have formal education in the "discipline" instead of just falling into it because they're too tired to be a staff nurse anymore.

My story? I blame it on a congenital defect. Just about everyone in my family (3 generations) has been an educator - mostly K-12. Most ended up with EdD's or PhDs. I thought I'd break the mold and go into nursing - - yeah, right. Can't fight the old chromo-net.

I began in Critical Care - gravitated immediately into the education realm via the usual route; preceptor --> unit educator. The big difference for me was that I already knew about education as a profession - and could contrast it with what was happening around me. So - took the leap into grad school - Critical Care with education focus.

Grad school was a disappointment - not enough focus on education. Very little on educational theory, technology, measurement, etc. So I continued to learn - but chose to go post-grad into an EdD program instead of nursing. I work at the corporate level in a large healthcare organization - managing online learning & clinical education/development. Currently, I'm really jazzed about mobile learning & Web 2.0 - how we can integrate it into clinical education.

Me? - education - is not what I "do" - it's what I "am"

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I was a NICU staff nurse who became a CNS/Staff Development after getting my MSN. Then I went back to school and got a PhD in nursing.

Now I work full time in a hospital (doing staff development, research, and evidence-based practice) and teach 1 or 2 classes per year for a local nursing school.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med surg, cardiac, case management.

Interesting...I've heard plenty of RNs who have gone and gotten an EdD after their masters's.

Also interesting that you come from a family of educators. I have some education background too: years ago I studied for a little while for an MAT at the same school I'm presently doing my MSN...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Advanced Practice, surgery.

Not sure if I am qualified to answer this now because I left nurse education to go back to clinical practice.

I worked in ICU / PICU / Cardiac ICU / Burns ICU before I became a practitioner lecturer (similar to your clinical instructors) I then took a job as a charge nurse in a surgical HDU / ICU before I taught emergency care and resuscitation.

I missed patient contact so much I became a NP but in the UK the NP's have a strong educational role so I get clinical practice and teaching all within the same job.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in L&D.

8 years ICU/CCU

26 years in Labor & Delivery

bedside nurse through and through...

but LOVE teaching nursing students and preceptoring new RNs at the bedside!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU/Cosmetic Sx/Lasers/Education/School/.

5 years ICU, 2 years Cosmetic Surgery Center: I was the DON and Circulating Nurse (worked in the office for 8 years prior to becoming an RN), Community Health Nurse II/School Nurse, RN-Unit Manager for a Short Stay & Rehabilitation Unit.

I will be filling out paperwork next week for a Clinical Nursing Instructor! I am nervous and excited. I hope I do well and a make a positive experience for the clinical nursing students. I remember as a nursing student, the most important part for a positive learning experience is having a Clinical Nursing Instructor that is supportive, listens well, and is there to help you learn and succeed. Positive Reinforcement goes a long way with nursing students and it helps build their confidence. There were three clinical instructors that I really looked up to. I want what they have! I remember when I was a student I was always helping some of the other students because they would let their nerves get the best. They would go to the instructor or come to me to help them. I was always willing to help others. Everyone tells me I would have been a great counselor, teacher, psychologist, pyschiatrist (which is a part of nursing...) and/or a good nurse. I want to be the person help that student succeed and see them walk across the stage, pass the NCLEX, and have them contact me to say that they have passed. And that I helped build their confidence at the bedside. I look forward to this position and cannot wait to start.:yeah:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics.

I graduated with my BSN, went straight towards a Masters while working as an RN at a pediatric hospital. Worked as a PNP in an office setting.

Fell into teaching, filling in for an instructor who left at the last minute as a favor to a friend.

Loved it, worked adjunct for a year or two and then became a full time faculty member and part-time PNP.

And now thinking either EdD or DNP

Up Vote Up Vote ×
i graduated with my bsn, went straight towards a masters while working as an rn at a pediatric hospital. worked as a pnp in an office setting.

fell into teaching, filling in for an instructor who left at the last minute as a favor to a friend.

loved it, worked adjunct for a year or two and then became a full time faculty member and part-time pnp.

and now thinking either edd or dnp

meaning, what did you do before going into education?

also, i'm curious where you work...as staff educators? clinical instructors? ns faculty?

i'm an msn student (direct entry) who, to the horror of some of my classmates and instructors, wants to go into education.

-----------

i have no nursing in my background; my specialty is adult learning. i hold what is traditionally a sdn position at ccrc. this is a great opportunity because i am able to work with all departments (dietary, housekeeping, healthcare, etc.). i have 7 years experience in public

mental health (same position), so i have worked with nurses and physicians for several years.

i am looking for all the help and support i can get. what i bring to the table is years of networking around staff development in many industries.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm just starting on my Masters in Nursing Education. I cringe when I'm asked that question...I say I started out on Med-Surg floor, which was combined with Oncology, where I worked for 8 months fresh out of nursing school. I now work Long Term Acute Care...which I've worked 1 yr 3 month...with some of that being PRN work...I feel like I don't really have that much experience...but since I started nursing later in life...I don't really have the option of building years of experience, before I come back for my Master's. Oh well it will all work out...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics.

The biggest deterrent education has is the pay. I work at a university full time teaching BSN students, and make less than a new graduate RN. So it does suck to have an advanced degree and get paid so much less. In fact my of my total income 40% is my faculty pay and 60% is my PNP pay (this is working as a PNP year round approx 8-12 hours per week).

But there are other perks. And in some private schools, you can make better money. Nearby there is an ADN program in which the teachers make twice what we make.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med surg, cardiac, case management.

The pay does suck, which is why no one wants to do nursing education.

Which will make being a nursing educator tricky, but I'll have to manage with some sort of combination of positions....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment