Becoming a nursing professor?

[jojo2011]

Hi everyone,

I am to obtain my BSN in nursing soon and I am interested in teaching. I been doing some research because I was thinking to about getting a MSN in nursing education. I looked online at faculty nursing jobs and they all want at least 5 years of experience and a variety of experience from different areas. Many want a Phd in nursing. Should I not pursue an MSN in education? Realistically as a new grad with no experience I will not be able to work as a teacher for many years to come. What would be the best thing to do? just work and get experience and later on purse a MSN or now?

Thank you,

[llg, PhD, RN]

Yes. I think the prefered track is to get some actual clinical experience and become a competent professional nurse before going to graduate school. That doesn't necessarily have to take a long time, but you should plan on working full time as a staff nurse for at least a year, preferably two.

Then, once you know what is to be a real nurse, you will be in a better position to make decisions about your long-term career path. You may still decide that being a teacher in an academic setting is the right choice for you -- but you will also be aware of many other possibilities that you might not have even thought of yet. And you will know yourself as an actual nurse and not just as a student. That information will help you make future good decisions. For example, which specialty suits your tastes and talents the best? You can't know that for sure with only student experience behind you. You won't know that until you actually work in that specialty and succeed in that area.

That experience will also be invaluable in whatever career path you choose. That practical experience will provide a foundation of "real world" knowledge that will inform you future decisions about what to teach, what to research, and how to do those things.

After you have successfully made the transition to professional nurse, then you can start grad school -- perhaps part time with your employer paying much of the bill. You can continue to enrich your studies with real world experience -- and enrich your professional practice with further study. Each informs the other and produces the best results for both.

[WhichWayIsUp?]

Hi. I have a BSN and a MBA and I am currently finishing my MSN. I am interested in finding a teaching position. How do I start? Do I just find the local nursing schools and check for a job posting? Could it be that simple? I missed an opportuntiy by not reaching out to a professor when the last class of students came through our unit. Hopefully the SNs will return this fall and I can make that contact again. Any suggestions is most appreciated.

[llg, PhD, RN]

Do I just find the local nursing schools and check for a job posting? Could it be that simple? .

Yes ... or difficult, depending on your local job market. Make whatever contacts you can through local nursing organizations, conferences, etc. ... Send them a copy of your vitae and a nice cover letter ... etc. ... all the basic job-hunting activities.

Enhance your credentials however you can by being certified in your specialty, serving as a staff educator for your employer, working on projects, presenting posters or concurrent sessions at conferences, publishing, etc.

Your State Board website may have a list of all the schools in your region.

[NurseFuzzyWuzzy]

I am an BSN RN and have minimal "real" nursing experience. I have worked PRN for a family practice and for a nursing/rehab facility for close to 11 years. Yet, I just started a position at a private college to teach assessment in the lab/clinical setting. It is not even considered part-time - I will only be on site for 6hrs a week, but it is getting my foot in the door of education. My goal is to obtain my MSN and teach in an RN level program. This will take be a few years due to my other responsibilities, but I am working towards that goal.

You should be able to possibly teach in a local college (LPN?), or in a clinical setting as I am doing.