Compensation for Nurse Educators

[mol42]

Hi-

I am currently doing our nurse educator job as an additional duty for the past 3 years. My unit will now opening a new job up as a full-time educator for staff education/ orientation because they have finally figured out that it doesn't work well to have the person in charge of all the education for staff to also be in the staffing numbers, charge nurse and team leader when needed. This means I'll have to apply for a job I'm already doing (don't get me started on that one). I'm currently part-time employee. this job is a full time opening. I have 17 years as an RN (BSN) with the last 8 years on my unit. The hospital I work at is in Northern Virginia I would love advice on 2 questions:

1)What can I expect would be the avg salary for the unit educator (and should I ask for)?

2)I definitely would like this job but I don't necessarily want to increase my 3 (8hrs) day a week schedule. Since this is currently part of my job I personally don't feel that if my sole job was unit educator and I wouldt have to do staff nursing, charge nurse etc that it really wouldn't be necessary that the person taking this position has to be full time, since when I am given time to work on educator duties at least 1-2 days a week I am able to catch up with everything. Any advice?

Thank you

Mary

[llg, PhD, RN]

Unit-based educators without MSN's usually have a salary range only slightly higher than that of a staff nurse. In fact, many actually see a pay cut when they switch into that role if their staff nurse compensation included differentials and bonues that are not included in their educator role. Of course, the difference in pay scales varies from place to place, but in many hospitals, the difference in base pay is only 5-10%.

On the positive side, there may be some extra "benefits" in terms of scheduling (holidays, weekends, nights, etc.) and flexibility with your schedule that might come with the new role that make it worthwhile even if the pay increase is minimal or non-existent. For many people, those "quality of life" benefits are more important than cash.

If the job is a planned as a full time job, you may have to increase your hours to be chosen -- unless you can convince your manager that having it filled with 2 part-time people is a good idea. If it is budgeted as a full time position, there may be additional expectations for the role that you have not been fulfilling with your current arrangement. The plan might be to expand those duties -- and it is that expansion that the manager used to justify the new position in the budget. Be sure to ask about that early in your exploration of the possibilities with your manager so that you don't box yourself in a corner by thinking only of your "old role" while she focusing on a "new role with new, additional responsibilities."

Good luck! I hope it works out for you.