Adjunct Prof.:How are they paid?

VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN · May 8, 2005

The adjuncts for our program are paid by the hour, Geri, and this includes a generous amount of time for grading (1/2 hour for each student packet), plus any time spent getting assignments or attending meetings. I do not know how much our adjuncts are getting paid by the hour, but I am certain it is much less than $40/ hour. However, this is the community college system in the South - much lower pay scale than the university system or a comparable community college system up North.

Trauma Columnist · May 8, 2005

In central IL, we have a position for a part-time nursing instructor (MSN prepared) for $25.65/hr.

Leda · May 8, 2005

In central Massachusetts adjunct clinical faculty in ADN programs are typcially paid around $40.00 per hour. Total contracted hours are established per semester and typcially include clinical hours with some additional prep and meeting hours.

gerinurse10 · May 8, 2005

I would assume you get all this information on the interview. I found some specific salary ranges on the college sites that I would be interested working at ie. ADN program you get $3200- per 3 credit course. (Is that good?) Some sites do not quote a salary. Thanks for the responses.

llg, PhD, RN · May 8, 2005

There seems to be a lot of variation from school to school. A local community college I know of only pays for the hours actually in clinical -- with only about 2 hours per week for preparation, grading, meeting with students, committee meetings, etc. It is a joke and they have a horrible time recruiting and retaining faculty.

Also ... don't forget to consider the value of any benefits included or NOT included. Some schools include a few benefits -- but most do not include the big ones such as health insurance, group rates on life insurance, a retirment plan, etc. These things can add up to a lot of money.

llg

FNP/DNP · May 13, 2005

I would assume you get all this information on the interview. I found some specific salary ranges on the college sites that I would be interested working at ie. ADN program you get $3200- per 3 credit course. (Is that good?) Some sites do not quote a salary. Thanks for the responses.

Here in Indiana I think the going rate is 3,000 per clinical (5 hours per week). This includes going the night before to pick patients and grading papers and meeting with students. I am discouraged by the amount of work- probably better for the tenure track people,

gerinurse10 · May 14, 2005

That doesn't sound like alot of money when you break down the hours. That's the bad thing about doing clinical as an adjunct. This is why I started this question. I have heard from some other people that you have to check to see if you get paid for the mandatory meetings and that night before clinical check at the hospital. When you start figuring it out it is a very low hourly salary for someone who is getting no benefits. I wonder if the benefit is getting your foot in the door towards a full time position?

elkpark · May 14, 2005

I have only taught as a full-time faculty member myself, but I've had some friends who took adjunct teaching positions (as clinical instructors) and their experience was that they were paid a per-hour rate for the actual hours of clinical that they taught. All the preparation, grading of paperwork, etc., was on their own time (as someone else noted, this varies greatly from school to school). They felt strongly that the little bit of money they got paid was nowhere near worth the amount of time they put in, and both commented to me that, in their opinions, the only reason to teach as an adjunct is because you really want to get your "foot in the door" at a particular school and have an edge for getting a full-time faculty position when one opens up.

FNP/DNP · May 14, 2005

I have only taught as a full-time faculty member myself, but I've had some friends who took adjunct teaching positions (as clinical instructors) and their experience was that they were paid a per-hour rate for the actual hours of clinical that they taught. All the preparation, grading of paperwork, etc., was on their own time (as someone else noted, this varies greatly from school to school). They felt strongly that the little bit of money they got paid was nowhere near worth the amount of time they put in, and both commented to me that, in their opinions, the only reason to teach as an adjunct is because you really want to get your "foot in the door" at a particular school and have an edge for getting a full-time faculty position when one opens up.

I agree 100% with that. Unfortunately, my university requires a PhD for a full time position. I only have a DNP and I am a nurse practitioner with no desire to go back for the research doctorate. I left my position in great frustration that the students really have no one clinically up to date to teach them. I make triple the salary as a nurse practitioner than I do as an educator. Maybe someday I'll go back when practice is more appreciated at that institution, or I'll most likely go elsewhere. I really loved teaching and was very disappointed by this experience.

MamaTheNurse, BSN, RN · May 15, 2005

I agree 100% with that. Unfortunately, my university requires a PhD for a full time position. I only have a DNP and I am a nurse practitioner with no desire to go back for the research doctorate. I left my position in great frustration that the students really have no one clinically up to date to teach them. I make triple the salary as a nurse practitioner than I do as an educator. Maybe someday I'll go back when practice is more appreciated at that institution, or I'll most likely go elsewhere. I really loved teaching and was very disappointed by this experience.

that's a drag - from what I've seen, the schools of my state (Michigan) only require a doctorate (not necessarily a PhD) and some don't even require it to be in nursing (but your Masters at least has to be) - you would think with the whole issue of a shortage in nursing faculty nationwide, schools would welcome any doctorate especially if it meant that the educator was up to date in the latest clinical issues!

gerinurse10 · May 15, 2005

Everytime I ask these salary questions I feel like I am setting myself up. I kind of knew that teaching isn't the most profitable profession. So why do people do it? I get torn because right now I am working in a management position and I make good money. I am in school now for my MSN. Am I doing all this work to come out with a lower paying job and I might have to work more hours? Oh what to do?? Will I even find a full time job?