How did you decide to teach?

The title basically says it all, how did you decide to go into nursing education? I ask this because I am currently in nursing school (ADN program) and am day dreaming about possible job choices in the future... So, if you're willing, would the educators out there answer a few questions?

1. What made you decide to begin educating nursing students

2. What level of education do you have (MSN, Ph. D, etc.)

3. Where did you get your degrees (university, online, face-to-face, etc.)

4. Was it hard to find a job teaching nursing?

5. What types of nursing experience do you have, or was teaching always the goal?

6. Finally, do you enjoy what you do?

Thanks in advance for the answers, and thanks for teaching the next round of nurses!

:heartbeat:nurse::heartbeat

1. I've always been interested in teaching -- I started teaching piano lessons in high school (at the insistence of my piano teacher at the time), I coached voice in college the first time around, my original career plan was to teach music at the college/university level (rather than being primarily a performer), I tutored in nursing school. Teaching has just been a recurring motif throughout my life.

2. MSN

3. I attended grad school at a traditional university program -- I moved to another region of the country to attend school and moved back home after I finished school.

4. At different times, it's been easier or harder, depending on the economy and other factors. I easily walked into a full-time teaching position when I first came home from grad school because of personal connections and a paucity of qualified nursing instructors in my rural area. There have been times when schools have been recruiting me to come teach for them. There have been times when I can't find a teaching job (there are jobs and I apply and interview for them, but someone else gets hired).

5. I had many years of experience in my clinical specialty before I returned to grad school. I have moved back and forth between teaching and clinical practice since then (I've spent more time in clinical practice than I have teaching).

6. I enjoy both clinical practice and teaching -- I can't imagine completely giving up either one to just do the other. In addition to working as faculty in pre-licensure nursing programs, I've also provided clinical supervision to grad students in nursing and other mental health disciplines, and have done staff inservice education (on individual topics within my specialty -- I've never worked in a formal staff education/development role).

1. What made you decide to begin educating nursing students

2. What level of education do you have (MSN, Ph. D, etc.)

3. Where did you get your degrees (university, online, face-to-face, etc.)

4. Was it hard to find a job teaching nursing?

5. What types of nursing experience do you have, or was teaching always the goal?

6. Finally, do you enjoy what you do?

1. After 20+ years of nursing, I felt God leading me into getting a masters. Looked through the options, didn't want to be a practitioner but have always enjoyed teaching and leading thing (many year of leading Scouts teaching badges and giving trainings, etc.). So, went for the MSN in Nursing Ed, and taught clinicals; loved it so kept going.

2. MSN

3. online with field work at a local CC, where I had taught clinicals

4. No, the CC recruited me

5. Experience: medsurg, volunteering overseas, camp nurse, oncology, PCU, ER. As I said, didn't look at teaching until after 20+ years

6. Yes! I work bedside in the ER, and teach parttime as adjunct faculty. Best of both worlds.