Considering being a nurse instructor

Hi and welcome to AllNurses

The degree requirements for a clinical instructor will vary from state to state, and from program type to program type (i.e., ADN versus BSN) but the very minimum educational requirement is a BSN (for some ADN programs in some states). For classroom instruction, again, it depends on the state. In most states, a minimum of a Master's degree is required. However, in some states (such as NC), one can teach nursing in a classroom (in ADN programs) with a BSN. You really need to check with your state BON as to educational requirements.

And, no, you don't have to be a "drill sargeant" to be an effective clinical instructor. Research has shown that the most effective instructors are the ones who have high standards, yet connect with their students in a caring way. The drill sargeant model is "old school" and fading away for more student-friendly approaches to teaching nursing.

I would like to concur with Vicki, I was a first year teacher this last quarter but let my personality guide me and was very successful. Setting your standards and verbalizing your expectations are the first thing. You may not know what those are right away, but just keepit open. Give respect and you will get respect, and treat each of them fairly, but firmly. It was a great term and I am looking for many more.
Lynn

I too like the idea of being a caring instructor, however it seems when you relax, the students relax as well. They do just enough to get by with.
Lately I have students who can not get the basic nursing skills right. Then when I say something it's my fault for being to hard on them. These are PN students, 2 semester Med/Surg clinical. For example not catching on that a O2 sat of 77% is a problem or a Temp of 95 oral or a BP of 90/40. Yet they are so ready to give injections and delegate personal care to NA’s.
How do you do both? Be caring and make sure the student does not kill a patient?

Bearyspecial:
Being fair AND turning out safe nursing students is not easy! I remind the students that the board of nursing is not there to protect them, it is there to protect the clients! Sounds like they may have to repeat a few skill stations and do some remediation! And, NO, it is not your fault! They need to be more careful with the lives they hold in their hands!!

My attitude towards student success is somewhat similar to my attitude towards patients in the hospital. My job is to be caring, provide the best climate conducive to education, and to try to serve as a role model. What students choose to do with the information is their decision. The majority choose to work hard and succeed, but there are some who choose not to, or face other obstacles. I am happy to direct them to resources.

There is a line that you have to draw between being caring and being overly involved, and it can take some time to determine how to do that. But there is never a need to treat someone poorly. I expect very high standards, as you would of your own children, because you want them to be their best.

I have been instructing Nursing Students for three semesters, this last one being the most challenging. I am very caring and considerate with my students and never a drill sergant. They know my expectations from the beginning and that my number 1 priority is Patient Safety. My students know that they are my priority as well, but first and foremost is patient safety. I had a great reponse from my students from my previous two semesters with excellent evaluations from them and same for the third, except for 2 students, which were very challenging. One student wanted to take charge and when she did things wrong she would not accept responsibility or accountability. (I teach First year Second Semester) and this particular student could not prioritize nurisng plan of care by the end of the semester, she assumed a 02 Sat of 88 % was normal for a patient with no resp issues, who's sats were normally 99-100%, and questioning PT in regards to a client she was assigned to why they were not walking the patient (DVT Femoral and popliteal, leg was red, swollen, hot and 3 times the size of the left leg) and when I told her to think about it....clueless. Then I explained it to her and her response was, OH! The other student same kind of issues and prioritizing. They tried to blame others for their problems and then tried to put it back on me at the end of the semester. I had tons of documentation, so always keep documentation on all students, and especially thoughs students that are not doing very well, and end up failing the clinical. They failed, fought it, took it to the director and the VP, I had the documentation and excellent evals from other students. Mind you this student yelled at me one night, followed me to the car the next night to try to discuss the issues (we were to meet with another faculty member), then made verbal threats as well and it got back to me from students that she was telling. So it can be a challenge and I have never experienced anything like this before. Nor have other instructors that I have worked with, except for students yelling at them (they have had students do this several times).
These two students did their best to not accept responsibility for their own actions and learning process.

Even after all of this, I still love teaching. Always make sure your students know what your expectations are and how it will increase throughout the semester: the bar gets raised higher. Make sure they know to respect you, the staff, and fellow students. Don't let the students get the best of you (which these two students were bound and determined they were going to get me to quit). Never will I let any student get to me in that way. I love my job and majority of the students really like having me. I was just told in the same semester as these issues at hand a group of students went to the director and wanted to nominate me for the Nursing Faculty Award and wanted me to pin them and the pinning ceremony.
It is a great job and go for it. But never be a drill sargent. Work with the students, make them feel comfortable. Number 1 help build their self-esteem and believe in them and make them believe in themselves.

I applaud your decision. I made the same decision 20 years into my career and wish I had made it years earlier! Bottom line...the BSN is going to be the entry level degree one of these days so my advice would be to start a MSN in Nursing Ed that has a pathway directly to the Doctorate. Students love to hear about things you've seen or done in nursing. That is my "rabbit outa the hat" to keep them focused! Good luck!