FNP student but I also want to teach in the future...is this even possible!?

[NJ777]

Hiiiiii guys!! I was wondering if someone can shed some light onto something I've been thinking about for months and months now :) so I'm currently an FNP student and will be graduating hopefully in a year or so. Little background on me I've been working as a bedside nurse an adult & now pediatric CVICU for 3 years! I like it in the ICU however I don't see myself wanting that type of stress on the daily when I'm older. I like the job of an FNP && I am excited to see where the future will take me! BUT I am not looking forward to the 5 day/week schedule with that being said......when I first started NP school I was debating education as well because I always thought how cool & rewarding it would be to teach students (BSN or maybe masters later on!) like myself. So what steps do I need to take now to be able to still be a practicing nurse practitioner....but teach as well? Maybe a part time job at a campus or teaching RN to BSN students online? I want to know if this has been done by any of you/any advice at all etc! Thanks :)

[WestCoastSunRN, MSN, CNS]

Disclaimer: not an NP.

Yes, you can teach. Lots of NPs go into teaching (look at the credentials of various university faculty). If you want a tenured teaching position somewhere, you will need to get your doctorate, but lots of undergraduate programs utilize MSN prepared instructors.

[NICUmiiki, DNP, NP]

Who is teaching you? NPs should be teaching the NP courses. To teach at the graduate level, you'll likely need to complete a nursing doctorate degree at some point.

[verene, MSN]

Very much possible! Undergrad programs usually require a master's degree and graduate programs usually want a doctorate (DNP, PhD or EdD.) You might see if there are opportunities to TA for courses during your graduate studies as that will give you some exposure. I know a couple of NP students who are interested in teaching down the road who've been able to get TA positions or part-time clinical instructor positions to start bolstering their resumes now while the have faculty mentors available to them as graduate students.

You will have lots of opportunity to be involved in education along your career path as a NP, from clinical education to didactic.

[Dodongo, APRN, NP]

Hiiiiii guys!! I was wondering if someone can shed some light onto something I've been thinking about for months and months now :) so I'm currently an FNP student and will be graduating hopefully in a year or so. Little background on me I've been working as a bedside nurse an adult & now pediatric CVICU for 3 years! I like it in the ICU however I don't see myself wanting that type of stress on the daily when I'm older. I like the job of an FNP && I am excited to see where the future will take me! BUT I am not looking forward to the 5 day/week schedule with that being said......when I first started NP school I was debating education as well because I always thought how cool & rewarding it would be to teach students (BSN or maybe masters later on!) like myself. So what steps do I need to take now to be able to still be a practicing nurse practitioner....but teach as well? Maybe a part time job at a campus or teaching RN to BSN students online? I want to know if this has been done by any of you/any advice at all etc! Thanks :)

I would encourage you, as an NP, to teach NP students. I hate to see NPs clinging onto the RN too much... This will likely be more enriching for you, at least academically.