Aspiring Educator

sleepwalker, MSN, NP · Jun 1, 2021

What does your body habitus have to do with wanting to be an educator?

LOL..?

jk!

Editorial Team / Admin · Jun 1, 2021

I work in professional development for perioperative services, managing orientation, competencies, and ongoing education for 12 departments across 3 buildings.

Most of the time, I work Monday through Friday, 0700-1530. There are some days I'll come in a little later and stay a little later to support our second shift (very small group as surgeries wrap up around 5pm) or come in early to support our third shift (even smaller than second as they are there for emergencies only). I do also a few times a year support a weekend offering, such as a certification review course or specialty course (we have our orthopedic reps coming in with fake bones and the staff will actually get to get hands on with drilling, plating, screwing, external fixating, etc. to better understand fractures and how we fix them).

I like having the almost set schedule where I am pretty much guaranteed to get out on time. I also like the fact that I no longer have to cover call like I did when I was direct care staff- there is nothing so heart attack inducing as the insanely loud ringtone for work going off at 3am.

Some of the challenges are sheer volume. I have approximately 650 employees that I cover. For a while, I was on my own when my previous partner elected to return to her previous role and my new partner just got started. That was quite overwhelming and I am very glad to have the opportunity to not be as crazy now. (Well. I'm still crazy, just not crazy busy.)

I love seeing a nurse who has never set foot in an OR "get it" when wrapping up orientation. I just love teaching- I have that opportunity with monthly offerings, classes for orientees, and other things that we do.

Things I hate: I'm not the expert in all 12 of those departments I cover. My background is the OR itself; I'm also responsible preop, postop, PACU, endo, and some other miscellaneous departments. That means I have to negotiate with managers to get my hands on subject matter experts (AKA, those who have a lot of knowledge to share with their colleagues that I don't personally have) for them to do some education- but it helps the staff out because they can use it for clinical laddering.

MF1679 · Jul 8, 2021

@ Rose_Queen I’m and OR Nurse as well! And where you are is my exact goal! Amen to you ! And your accomplishments. I plan to get a MSN in education. To do exactly what your doing. The comments on other pages in reference to MSN in education. Is very discouraging. Then I see your post and ?!

anewsns · Jul 9, 2021

20 hours ago, MF1679 said:

@ Rose_Queen I’m and OR Nurse as well! And where you are is my exact goal! Amen to you ! And your accomplishments. I plan to get a MSN in education. To do exactly what your doing. The comments on other pages in reference to MSN in education. Is very discouraging. Then I see your post and ?!

I’m in the same boat ! Very interested in education / professional development. I have ZERO desire to be an NP, so am interested to hear people’s responses as well. I’m waiting on a decision for MSN educator program.

Smooth Sailing, MSN, RN · Jul 10, 2021

I decided to pursue my MSN with a specialization in education and it was the best decision ever! I recently graduated in September 2020, and by November of last year I was hired for a clinical instructor position at a local community college. I really enjoy teaching the students and sharing all the knowledge I've learned along the way. For me it's very rewarding to see them understanding the concepts of nursing and being able to implement the skills with real patients. I recently learned that every student in my class passed their boards and are licensed nurses, so that makes it all worth it!!

MF1679 · Jul 10, 2021

4 hours ago, Smooth Sailing said:

I decided to pursue my MSN with a specialization in education and it was the best decision ever! I recently graduated in September 2020, and by November of last year I was hired for a clinical instructor position at a local community college. I really enjoy teaching the students and sharing all the knowledge I've learned along the way. For me it's very rewarding to see them understanding the concepts of nursing and being able to implement the skills with real patients. I recently learned that every student in my class passed their boards and are licensed nurses, so that makes it all worth it!!

✅??

MrsC16 · Jan 5, 2022

Hello -

I got my MSN in nursing education about 2 years ago now. I had not issues finding a job as a nurse educator. I originally started out at a nursing home but things did not work out there due to the public/private model there. I left there and I am now at a home health and hospice agency as one of their clinical nurse educators, I absolutely love it. Meeting new staff, helping existing staff, creating curriculum, learning about new products and procedures, researching answers for challenging questions. No two days are ever the same which is what I love. The only thing I miss is patient interaction, however, I found a happy medium with helping new staff in the field if they are uncomfortable and no one else is available to help them. Seeing staff come in and thrive after their 3 week orientation with me is such a fulfilling feeling and to have them reach out with questions later makes things worthwhile, validating all that I do.

LeChien, BSN, RN · Jan 6, 2022

Thank you everyone for your comments. I made the original post before I knew I was accepted into the MSN program, so I'm happy to say I'm 4 months into it! I'll be graduating May of 2023. I appreciate everyone's stories!!