How much experience would you recommend?

VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN · Apr 4, 2005

I am a new ADN graduate and working on a medical floor and on my BSN, and my one true love has always been teaching. In school I had some instructors who were great, and some I barely survived , and I felt like one key component in their skill was how much floor experience they'd had. So from those of you who've been there, how much experience do you think a nurse should have before they are really ready to guide others?

Welcome to our forum, darcieg! I would recommend at least two years' worth of full time clinical experience for the specialty area in which you will be teaching. Hope this helps! :)

Gompers, BSN, RN · Apr 4, 2005

I'd say at the very least two years. I will say this - the BEST BEST BEST nursing instructors that I had in school weren't the ones who worked for twenty years and then switched to teaching. It was the ones who worked for five years or so, were working on their graduate degrees, and STILL worked at a hospital. Most only worked a couple of shifts a month, but it made a HUGE difference in how they taught. They were the most up-to-date, and they had the best tips for us. It's worth it to work a shift every week or two and make sure your students know it.

Good luck!