If you're burned out at the bedside...

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If you're burned out at the bedside, but love teaching nursing students, is applying for a clinical instructor position at a nursing school a wise decision?

I'm struggling with this one. I adore students, love to teach, love to have students with me on the unit, and always get really good feedback from them. However, I am burned out and want to leave bedside nursing. I am ready to be done.

Opinions? Thoughts?

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I have no desire to ever be a FT bedside nurse ever again. I do not dislike clinical with students though. They are different in my mind. It is difficult for me to explain....I like the relationship between instructor and student at the bedside.

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The biggest problem I would have being a clinical instructor would be keeping a straight face while teaching the students how it's supposed to be done rather than the way it actually is done. What is taught in nursing school is the idealized notion of nursing,......it exists only in textbooks and lectures. Not in the real world. Unfortunately. Plus, the huge pay cut instructors face is an embarrassment to the profession.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

Just don't bring any "burned out" or jaded attitudes and behaviors to your instructor job. Students deserve an instructor who can present a positive picture of nursing. Students should not be taught by someone who displays a negative, burned out, or jaded attitude.

Realism, yes .... but burned out or jaded, no.

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Just don't bring any "burned out" or jaded attitudes and behaviors to your instructor job. Students deserve an instructor who can present a positive picture of nursing. Students should not be taught by someone who displays a negative, burned out, or jaded attitude.

Realism, yes .... but burned out or jaded, no.

Not jaded, just burned out. I wouldn't bring a bad attitude to the classroom, yes, I understand that is a very unhelpful thing to do. My favorite instructors were the happy, enthusiastic ones. I can still be that, hence the reason I'm trying to leave the bedside now.
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Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

keep in mind, depending on the school, teaching can give you a very, very small paycheck...much smaller than bedside nursing

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keep in mind, depending on the school, teaching can give you a very, very small paycheck...much smaller than bedside nursing
I have noticed. LOL. However, I am in the fortunate position that money is not an object for me, really, so I can cut pretty deep into the pay scale and still be okay. Honestly at this point in the game I just want to do something I enjoy, regardless of the pay. I really enjoy working with students.
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