NP\ Nursing Educator career

[tidealum10]

Not sure if this question has been asked on this website, but I wanted to know if it is possible to be a Nurse Practitioner and some type of Nurse Educator (i.e. Clinical Professor) or is this just a impossible thing to do

[LaxNP, DNP]

I have a BSN and am currently in school working on a NP degree. I teach clinicals in a ADN program on the weekends making great money. There are a couple full-time instructors that are NP's in the program. What I was told that in order for the school to keep their accredidation, all instructors have to be MSN prepared and NP's have MSN (or atleast my program is an MSN). However, adjuncts (like me) can have a BSN as long as we are enrolled in a MSN progrm and can show proof of an educational plan. Hope this helps.

[tidealum10]

Thank you LaxNurse for your reply. I will be starting my MSN program soon and I wanted to know if I would be able to pursue both of my dreams (ACNP and Nurse Educator). The reason I asked this question was because I had an older individual tell me it may be a stretch to do both since NP's are "a baby step behind physicians" when it comes to there line of duty. In other words, I would probably be too busy.

[Christen, ANP]

IMO, an MSN is an MSN. If you wanted to work as a nurse educator, you probably could find a job. It would be really difficult to work as a NP and a nurse educator, as they are typically both full time jobs. I will say, that you will do a LOT of teaching in your role as a nurse educator. It might not fill that "educator void" you're feeling, but it helps. I personally love teaching and being a clinical instructor, but can't do both. I'm getting plenty of personal satisfaction teaching my patients what they need to do to make things work... most of the time, anyway! haha especially when they're compliant!

[tidealum10]

Would it be possible to do one job full-time and the other part-time or should I just decide on one and go with it?

[Christen, ANP]

I think having two MSN degrees, albeit in different specialties, can be a waste if not done right. If you want to be a provider, make diagnoses, treat problems and patients, and write prescriptions - you have to be a NP. If you want to be an educator, you might want to consider going the PhD route and at least advance your degree rather than having two MSNs, ya know?

It's hard planning out the future, believe me, I know! I had a hard time deciding between the educator role of a CNS (not used as a HCP where I live) or the provider role of the NP. I went the NP route because, as much as I love to teach, I love taking care of patients more. You might need to do some soul searching and figure out what you want to do, and ask yourself if you can find a job with the degree you choose.

[tidealum10]

I will definitely do that. Thank you all for your great responses!

[Christen, ANP]

Goooood luck! It's a tough decision to make!

[elkpark]

I think having two MSN degrees, albeit in different specialties, can be a waste if not done right. If you want to be a provider, make diagnoses, treat problems and patients, and write prescriptions - you have to be a NP. If you want to be an educator, you might want to consider going the PhD route and at least advance your degree rather than having two MSNs, ya know?

Why would the OP have "two MSN degrees"? Are you talking about completing an NP program and an education program? Most of the MSN-prepared nursing faculty I've known over the years (including myself) have been teaching with an MSN in an advanced practice specialty. Most nursing faculty job postings I've seen over the years specify that they want the applicant to have a specific clinical specialty and that advanced practice certification -- it's only recently that I've seen a few postings specifying that they prefer someone with an MSN in nursing education (and those have all been for ADN programs where they're looking for a generic "educator" to teach anything rather than being an expert in a particular specialty. Don't get me started on the nursing programs that have faculty teaching subject areas in which they have no particular experience or expertise ... ).

Lots of people do part-time clinical practice and teach part-time -- or do one full-time and the other part-time. Nearly all of the faculty in my grad school (except the top administrative people) taught at least part-time while maintaining clinical practices, and I've taught full-time while maintaining a part-time clinical practice. People do it all the time.

Certainly, if one wants to be in a position to pursue tenure in a university (or just wants the personal satisfaction and accomplishment), it would make sense to take a PhD after completing an MSN with a clinical focus.

OP, best wishes for your journey! :balloons:

[Christen, ANP]

Agreed, an MSN is an MSN is an MSN....most of the time. LOL. It's probably area dependent. If the OP wants to be a provider, the NP role is the way to go - I pause to add that I know an NP who works in an educator role at my acute care facility because of her CNS degree (she was a dual MSN), and if the OP is really leaning towards the educator route, the NP might potentially close doors that a CNS or a MS-Education would easily open.

We're not really technically trained for teaching, putting together presentations, etc, etc - not that we can't do it, just that some schools or facilities might look at that lack of knowledge as a reason to pick a more classically trained nurse educator over an MSN who is a NP.

[tidealum10]

This is all great information! (pulls out notebook and pen)

[linearthinker, DNP, RN]

All of my professors in NP school were PhD prepared academics, but were also each practicing NPs. I can only think of one exception, and she is a world renown researcher who used to be the Dean. I believe my school required NP instructors to practice a minimum # of hrs a year.