Could I teach clinical at a hospital?

[LilyRN99]

I currently teach clinical for a LPN program and we go to a long term care facility. I haven’t worked in a hospital since 2001. I‘m exploring my future options as an educator. If I worked for a RN program, clinical would be at a hospital. Would that be something I could easily transition to? Would the school or hospital offer an orientation? I don’t want to go for a MSN in education to find out that I don’t have the right experience to get a job. I have no desire to work at a hospital per diem. 

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

Typically you need some type of relevant (I.e. hospital) experience to teach clinical in that setting. A clinical site is not going to offer much if anything in the way of orientation- you don't work for them. The school will provide the bare bones. What about learning about simulation and working in a skills/ sim lab? 

 

[LilyRN99]

2 hours ago, meanmaryjean said:

Typically you need some type of relevant (I.e. hospital) experience to teach clinical in that setting. A clinical site is not going to offer much if anything in the way of orientation- you don't work for them. The school will provide the bare bones. What about learning about simulation and working in a skills/ sim lab? 

 

That sounds like something I could do. Although, I image it would be a more difficult position to get since most schools probably only have one skills lab instructor. 

[llg, PhD, RN]

I agree with the posters above.  If you want to "market yourself" on the job market as someone with enough expertise to teach clinicals in an acute care hospital, you'll need to have recent acute care hospital experience.   Can you get a part time job doing that as you go to school?

Another thought is to focus on specializing in geriatrics  for you MSN program -- either in that clinical area or in teaching that clinical area.   You might be able to get a faculty job as a geriatric specialist or get a staff development job in a geriatric setting with your background.

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

3 hours ago, LilyRN99 said:

That sounds like something I could do. Although, I image it would be a more difficult position to get since most schools probably only have one skills lab instructor. 

Not true at all. The schools I am familiar with have many skills and sim instructors. 

[LilyRN99]

On 9/3/2020 at 3:42 PM, meanmaryjean said:

Not true at all. The schools I am familiar with have many skills and sim instructors. 

Good to know!  Guess my school was small.

[NurseKatie08, MSN]

On 9/3/2020 at 3:42 PM, meanmaryjean said:

Not true at all. The schools I am familiar with have many skills and sim instructors. 

Agreed. I teach lab for a hybrid ABSN program and there are 7 lab instructors

[Rnis, BSN, DNP, APRN, NP]

Can you get a PRN job at a subacute hospital?  working as a  clinical instructor is nothing like floor nursing.  I have been off the floor for 5 years (but have continued to regularly teach a clinical a few times a year)  and I have no problem doing the role.  but you do need to be very comfortable with IV pump management .   I have had to do a skills check off at some of the facilities I have gone too....but they only have you do a 4 hour orientation at most.. They expect you to come as an competent experienced nurse ( which is fair).   Some facilities have nurses without hospital experience shadow with another clinical instructor for a clinical their first semester.

[londonflo]

One of the most important traits for a clinical instructor is being self-directed in acquiring what you need to know on your own.  Once you are hired by the school and assigned a clinical site you set up your own orientation. Find out who teaches the EHR system. If you need to to CBLs call that department. Spend atleast a day on the clinical unit learning where things are (students will ask you where the BR is even when they are standing in front of the door). Shadow a nurse to findout what the routine is like. You will have to get Pyxis access, a key card to get into the supply room, find out about what parking lot students and faculty use. Then plan the orientation you will give your students.  It is all up to you.

[Rnis, BSN, DNP, APRN, NP]

12 minutes ago, londonflo said:

One of the most important traits for a clinical instructor is being self-directed in acquiring what you need to know on your own.  Once you are hired by the school and assigned a clinical site you set up your own orientation. Find out who teaches the EHR system. If you need to to CBLs call that department. Spend atleast a day on the clinical unit learning where things are (students will ask you where the BR is even when they are standing in front of the door). Shadow a nurse to findout what the routine is like. You will have to get Pyxis access, a key card to get into the supply room, find out about what parking lot students and faculty use. Then plan the orientation you will give your students.  It is all up to you.

That really has nothing to do with her question. she has taught a clinical recently, her questions was about the fact she hasn't worked in a hospital for almost 20 years...……

[londonflo]

2 hours ago, Rnis said:

That really has nothing to do with her question.

I was responding to this question in the OP post:

On 9/3/2020 at 7:51 AM, LilyRN99 said:

Would the school or hospital offer an orientation?

as meanmaryjean said:

On 9/3/2020 at 8:17 AM, meanmaryjean said:

A clinical site is not going to offer much if anything in the way of orientation- you don't work for them. The school will provide the bare bones. 

 

As you said (and I was building on the following comment of yours)

On 9/27/2020 at 8:32 PM, Rnis said:

but you do need to be very comfortable with IV pump management .   I have had to do a skills check off at some of the facilities I have gone too....but they only have you do a 4 hour orientation at most.

With regards to the other question in her post re. her future options with an MSN, I  think that aspect has been answered in the previous suggestions of a simulation and/or skills lab position or a staff development/teaching position with a geriatric specialization.

 

On 9/27/2020 at 8:32 PM, Rnis said:

working as a  clinical instructor is nothing like floor nursing. 

There are some similarities as you do serve as a role model for your students and you are teaching the students to be competent in the staff nurse role upon graduation.  I was always actively involved with the care when needed, but as I did teach at the same hospital for decades I had taught the RNs when they were students and was part of the nursing team. (I did however not work PRN anymore).