Is teaching at CC worth it???

[jlcole45]

I am considering applying to teach at a CC program while finishing my MSN. My goal is to earn my PhD or DNP and teach at the University level. It's not that I don't like CC's it just that they don't pay their nursing instructors well.

My advisor at school informed me that years of teaching experience, including teaching at a CC would count towards ranking when it comes time to apply for a professor position.

Have any of you heard this?

By the way the reason I would like to teach at a university is because I love the atmosphere, the schedule (9 months rather then 12), the level of research/scholarship, and the higher pay potential.

By the way when I spoke to the director of the local CC she told me that they have 22 contact hours plus 5 office hrs (so 27 total)a week with students - is this a normal amount?

And no I could not have time off for my own studies, and no the CC does not have tuition reimbriishment, nor does if have any money for professional dues or CEU's. The pay would be about equal with my current day job (once I counted in the benefits (ie a bit more paid time off with holidays and free health insurance) and it is a 12 month appointment.

[JaneyW]

I don't know what state you live in, but what you have posted is untrue in California. Community College instructors actually often have a higher earning potential and in some ways a better retirement plan (although with government economics being what they are this will change). CC has a 10 month year and the university has a 9 month one. In California, you cannot teach at a CC (other than clinical instructor) until you have completed your MSN. You are considered a nursing professor and can get tenure at a CC with an MSN. You can get a position at a university with just an MSN, but it will be year to year with no tenure.

In my neck of the woods, I have heard from many that CC is really the better option as far as pay and working environment. However, you will find yourself always doing clinical with students. At the university level, there is more opportunity to just do lecture.

I am almost finished with my MSN and am currently precepting (student teaching) at a CC this whole year. I am finding it to be a terrific experience. I live by two universities that may be willing to hire me as well. I am keeping my mind open at this point. I am 41 and am getting pretty burned out with school. I am LOVING teaching and very much looking forward to working as a professor. I really don't think I want to do the PhD at this time. I may change my mind after a few years. I think my interest and strengths are more in actual student interaction than in research. Everyone is needed to fill all of those roles, though.

[jlcole45]

I'm in NC and they have recently passed that CC instructors will be required within 3 yrs to have a MSN for teaching. At the local CC only the director is considered tenured and as stated its 12 months - with day, evenings and weekend programs.

Right now the position was opened for BSNs pursuing their MSN because they couldn't attract any MSNs because of the lousy pay and the fact that they don't support CEU or any other sort of continuing education.

All of the universities around here want PhDs or DNPs for their professors I think mostly because almost all of the programs have a graduate program in addition to the BSNs.