Does the nursing profession really want to eliminate the nurse faculty shortage?

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Specializes in critical care; home health.

I am so frustrated: :yawn: I completed my MSN in nursing education almost a year ago; have applied to several universities and have been turned down because I don't have teaching experience in the classroom or a PhD. All the talk regarding the nurse faculty shortage and the universities want you have teaching experience and to be PhD prepared in order to teach. I always had it in my mind that once I completed my MSN in Nursing Education I would be able to teach in the university; but my dreams have been smashed by the denial. I have more than 15 years of nursing experience: I left the field for 2.5 years to have my child, during that time I completed my studies only to be turned down in the pursuit to teach potential nursing students. Whatever happened to mentoring new nurse educator, allowing them to gain the teaching experience and increasing the number of nursing faculty. I guess they don't want to rid the nursing profession of the nursing faculty shortage. I know the money is not the best, but I'm am not looking at the salary, I just want to prepare other potential nurses to practice and experience the joy of the nursing profession. :mad:

I don't want to perform the clinical nurse educator role.

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Some university and college BSN programs use MSN-prepared (without doctorates) faculty, and some use only doctorally-prepared faculty -- and the trend seems to be toward all-doctorate faculty. Community college ADN programs love MSN-prepared faculty and, in my experience, are more open to hiring people without previous teaching experience -- have you applied for any of those programs? I believe you would get a better reception.

Also, are you getting some current clinical experience while you're looking? That would also help, I believe.

Best wishes.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I agree totally with elkpark. Departments of nursing within major research universities are subject to the same academic requirements that other academic departments within the university are. They have to meet the same academic standards of that academic community and that means a PhD for many jobs. (However, MSN's can often get jobs at such institutions as adjunct clinical instructors and/or other "lower rank" positions.)

If you want a teaching career with only an MSN, you'll need to look at other types of institutions -- 4-year schools that are less research focused, community colleges, for-profit ADN programs, etc. Another thing that you might have to deal with is that clinical intructor positions (at any school) are often just adjunct or part time -- which means they pay less and you may not get any benefits.

Finally ... how narrow is your clinical experience? The broader it is, the more likely a school will pick you up as an instructor. People whose clinical experience is limited to only 1 or 2 specialties are usually far less desirable on the lower end of the faculty job market. Do you need to broaden your clinical field a little?

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Specializes in Pediatric Pulmonology and Allergy.

There is no nursing shortage. There is no nursing faculty shortage. Nursing schools seem to have no trouble pumping out an endless number of new graduate students into an already flooded market. Let's put to rest the myth of the nursing/faculty shortage.

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Specializes in med surg.

This is not exactly what I want to hear since I just started back for my MSN in education. My goal is to teach either LPN or ADN students

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Specializes in critical care; home health.

Thank you for your comments. Yes, I have applied to community colleges, as well as ADN programs and I receive the same feedback, "you have no teaching experience". I have begun writing my teaching philosophy and am looking into PhD programs. I have strong clinical background in all adult ICU's, Radiology, Community Health as well as Case Management. I know I may need to accept a pay-cut and I am OK with that, I just want to teach nursing which is my ultimate goal. Right now I am working in Case Management/Community Health; I am really considering going back into the hospital for about a year just to have recent hospital experience. I will take all advise seriously; again I thank you.

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I really think that the need for nurse faculty varies by geographic region. In my area, there is a demand for faculty with a masters degree.

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Specializes in critical care; home health.

Yes, I believe it is as well, but I have seen numerous postings for faculty which is a large metropolitan area and they want PhD prepared. My cousin who lives in FL, and has an BSN was offered and took clinical instructor.

If you are going for an MSN in Education I would encourage you to go straight for your PhD and don't stop until you get one if you truly want to teach at the university level.

It's just very frustrating when the university sees your potential and experience and still will not hire and perform the mentorship which they say is part of there philosophy. Everyone needs a chance to prove themselves, I don't believe the universities want to put in the time and the money to train and mentor new nurse educators. :idea:

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

Another option for you might be Nursing Professional Development -- teaching nurses in a clinical setting. That's my field and I actually like it better than working for a college.

A nurse with an MSN is one of the most educated nurses in a hospital setting -- while that same nurse is at the bottom of the totem pole in a university. Working in a staff development department gives you the opportunity to teach ... easier access to patients and staff for research projects ... higher pay .... etc. It's not a bad life.

I work full time doing staff development in a hospital -- and teach 1 course per year for a local university.

llg, PhD, RN-BC

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Specializes in critical care; home health.

I would like to do the exact opposite; work full-time in the university setting and perform Per-Diem work in the hospital setting as clinical staff developer. There seems to be a lot of Per-Diem clinical educator positions in the hospital in my area. Thank you for your comments and suggestions.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

I am surprised to hear that you can't get your foot in the door, even for an adjunct position. Where I live (NY), most people start out as adjunct, because they usually want to see how you do first. If you're in an area that is saturated with faculty (or you do not meet the requirements), I would take whatever you can get. Is your MS in nursing Ed? Did you have to complete a student-teaching practicum? Usually that opens a door up. Have you tried the school you graduated from (either undergrad or grad school)? My first teaching job was in the ADN school I graduated from. Are you on facebook? Network with all your nurse friends and colleagues. Have you participated in any education projects at your current employer? Have you presented at any local conferences? It all looks great on your resume. Check out the staff education route, either in the hospital or homecare. Once you have a foot in the door, it gets easier.

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In my area (central PA) we always have adjunct facult positions for several colleges, both community and other. I have to think it's your area. There are at least 3 full time positions in my area, and probably 6-7 in another hours drive. You might need to consider a longer drive, an online position, or taking something part time to get your foot in the door. The schools around here hire BSN's who enroll in a MSN program. Is there a big pay difference in areas? Maybe we all just work for peanuts around here, I know we aren't making much more than the floor nurses right now...

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